Victor Wembanyama wasted no time putting on a show Saturday night, and the Minnesota Timberwolves were the ones stuck trying to solve it.
The San Antonio Spurs hosted Minnesota at the Frost Bank Center, where Wembanyama arrived dressed as Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher series and then delivered the kind of highlight that makes him feel like he’s playing a different sport. He first sold a jumper, then sent the ball off the glass, caught the return and hammered it home before throwing his arms up in celebration.
That dunk came as the Spurs were trying to claw back from a 34-28 first-quarter deficit.
Wembanyama kept rolling from there. By late in the second quarter, he already had 21 points to go with four rebounds and two assists.
De'Aaron Fox added 10 points and four assists, while Julian Champagnie chipped in nine points. Even with that production, San Antonio trailed 61-57 at the end of the quarter.
Minnesota’s scoring was spread around in the absence of Anthony Edwards, with Ayo Dosunmu leading the way at halftime. Dosunmu had 14 points, Jaden McDaniels added 13 points and an assist, and Bones Hyland and Jaylen Clark each scored six off the bench.
The Spurs entered the night at 3-2 after dropping their first two games before finding their footing. Minnesota came in off a win over the Los Angeles Clippers after back-to-back losses to the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. The Timberwolves had pulled back to 61-60 and carried a one-point lead into the second half, with Wembanyama still very much in the middle of the story.
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Tony Parker Just Gave Spurs Fans A New Wemby Reason To Dream
Tony Parker is back in France and back on the sideline, beginning his coaching career by taking over as head coach of ASVEL in 2025. For Spurs fans, it is another reminder that one of the franchises most iconic figures is still closely tied to the game and to the country that produced Victor Wembanyama, the centerpiece of San Antonios future.
Parker also made clear he has bigger ambitions down the road, saying he wants to coach the French National Team someday, with Wembanyama ideally part of that picture. It is an easy pairing to imagine after Parker praised Wembanyamas style of play and leadership qualities, a nod that will only add to the intrigue around how the Spurs star continues to grow on and off the court. [Read more 🡒]
Wembanyama Still Has One Problem The Spurs Must Solve Fast
The Spurs run to the NBA Finals ended with plenty of lessons attached, and the biggest one may have been how hard it became for Victor Wembanyama to get comfortable once the Knicks loaded up on him. New Yorks physical approach, especially from Karl-Anthony Towns, helped keep Wembanyama from dictating games the way San Antonio needed, and the series was full of the kind of costly turnovers and blown leads that tend to expose a young team when the pressure rises.
For San Antonio, the broader concern is not whether Wembanyama is a franchise centerpiece, but how quickly he can add the kind of dependable scoring move that changes the geometry of a playoff series. Until he has a go-to answer when defenses crowd him and try to knock him off his spots, opponents will keep making the same bet the Knicks did. The Spurs have the talent to push back, but this is the adjustment that could determine how far they go next time. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Winning Streak Faces A Big Question Before Timberwolves Test
The Spurs head into their matchup with Minnesota trying to keep a winning streak rolling, but the injury report has added a layer of uncertainty to a game that already carries some weight. Stephon Castle is listed as questionable with a migraine, a notable development for a team looking to stay sharp as it faces a Timberwolves group dealing with its own absences.
Minnesota could be without Rudy Gobert, who is questionable because of back spasms, while Anthony Edwards remains sidelined with a right knee injury. With both teams working through availability issues, the game may hinge less on star power than on which side can adjust quickest and keep its recent momentum intact. [Read more 🡒]