Victor Wembanyama scored 27 points and pulled down 17 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 126-97 in Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinal in San Antonio on May 13, taking a 3-2 lead in the series. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]
Wembanyama also blocked 3 shots, and some reports credited him with 5 assists. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11] The Spurs got 21 points from Keldon Johnson, 18 from De'Aaron Fox and 17 from Stephon Castle, with 6 San Antonio players reaching double figures. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11]
San Antonio led 59-47 at halftime after Wembanyama had 21 points and 11 rebounds in the first half. [2, 4, 12, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11] Minnesota tied the game in the third quarter, but the Spurs answered with a 30-12 run and carried an 18-point lead into the fourth. [2, 3, 12, 8, 11]
Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 20 points, while Julius Randle and Jaden McDaniels each scored 17. [1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 11] The Spurs entered Game 5 after a 114-109 loss in Game 4 on May 11, when Wembanyama was ejected for a second technical-flagrant foul related to an elbowing play. [5, 7, 9, 11]
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson praised Wembanyama, saying, “He was very mature, very engaged in the game.” [7] Wembanyama said the team needed to stay calm, adding that provoking opponents might be part of their strategy and that he was focused on the next game. [9] Game 6 is scheduled for the next contest in the series. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]
