Spurs rout Timberwolves by 38 to tie West semifinal at 1-1
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SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs answered their series-opening defeat with a record-setting blowout on Wednesday night, overwhelming the Minnesota Timberwolves 133-95 to even the Western Conference semifinal at one game apiece.
Rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama delivered 19 points and 15 rebounds, while fellow first-year guard Stephon Castle led all scorers with 21. De’Aaron Fox added 16 as San Antonio shot 50 percent from the floor and 41 percent beyond the arc inside Frost Bank Center.
The 38-point margin marked the worst postseason loss in Timberwolves history, eclipsing a 30-point defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers on April 29, 2003. It was also the Spurs’ highest playoff point total since a 145-105 clincher against Denver on May 4, 1983.
Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels and Terrence Shannon Jr. each finished with 12 points. Edwards once again came off the bench as the club continued to restrict his minutes in just his second game back from a hyperextended left knee.
San Antonio’s All-Star duo set the tone early, scoring the team’s first 11 points. After the Spurs missed their opening three shots, Wembanyama soared through the lane for a right-handed dunk to spark the offense. By halftime the hosts led 60-35, holding Minnesota to 29.8 percent shooting and 2-for-15 from deep.
A pair of consecutive slams from Dylan Harper and Castle capped an 11-0 run that pushed the cushion to 59-34 late in the second quarter. Rookie Carter Bryant also contributed a two-handed dunk—his first points of the series—followed moments later by a Wembanyama three-pointer that made it 43-26.
Both coaches emptied their benches with 10 minutes remaining after the Spurs stretched the advantage to 104-66. Wembanyama and Fox, who combined for just 21 points on 10-for-31 shooting in Game 1, finished 12-for-25 in the rematch.
The series shifts to Minneapolis for Games 3 and 4 on Friday and Sunday. San Antonio has not dropped back-to-back contests since mid-January road losses at Minnesota and Oklahoma City.
Source: ESPN
