The Minnesota Timberwolves fell short in their second-round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs, and coach Chris Finch is taking responsibility for one of the key decisions that contributed to the season-ending loss.
During a recent appearance on KFAN1003, Finch admitted he made a mistake with Minnesota’s defensive strategy in Game 6, a 139-109 defeat that ended the Timberwolves’ postseason and sent the eventual Western Conference champions to the conference finals.
Finch explained that he altered Minnesota’s defensive assignments in an effort to slow down Victor Wembanyama, but the move created problems elsewhere on the floor.
“I felt that going into Game 6 we tried to make some adjustments that were clearly not right. I kick myself for doing it just because I felt we probably didn’t need to be as extreme… I flipped the matchups around, we put Rudy on Castle, we started with Julius on Wemby.”
The adjustment was designed to prevent Wembanyama from establishing an early rhythm, something San Antonio’s star had done throughout the series.
Finch acknowledged that while the strategy partially accomplished that goal, it opened the door for another Spurs standout to take over the game.
Chris Finch admits he made a massive mistake with his defensive adjustments in Game 6 against San Antonio:
"We flipped the matchups around, we put Rudy on Castle, we started with Julius on Wemby… Looking back, I probably would not do it again. Of course I would not do it… pic.twitter.com/phOEZ74gDY
— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) June 10, 2026
“We were trying to mitigate Wemby’s hot starts and we did a good job but then Castle got loose on us. It wasn’t a scheme that we were overly comfortable with. We’ve done it from time-to-time and maybe it just wouldn’t have been the time to do it. So, looking back I probably would not do it again. Of course I would not do it again.”
Article Continues Below
Chris Finch’s Game 6 adjustment backfired as Stephon Castle erupted for Spurs
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) celebrates making a three point shot against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half during game six of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Target Center.
Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
That player was Stephon Castle, who delivered one of the best performances of his young career. Castle erupted for 32 points, 11 rebounds and six assists while shooting 11-for-16 from the field and 5-for-7 from 3-point range in just 30 minutes.
Wembanyama was also effective despite the defensive attention. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year finished with 19 points, six rebounds, three blocks and two assists while shooting 6-for-11 from the field and 7-for-9 from the free-throw line.
Minnesota never recovered from San Antonio’s offensive surge, as the Spurs controlled the game from start to finish and secured the series-clinching victory.
The admission highlights Finch’s willingness to evaluate his own decisions after the season. While the Timberwolves battled injuries and roster challenges throughout the playoffs, Finch pointed directly to Game 6’s defensive adjustments as one decision he would change if given another opportunity.
As Minnesota enters a pivotal offseason, Finch and the organization will look to learn from a playoff run that ended two wins short of a third consecutive Western Conference Finals appearance.
The Minnesota Timberwolves fell short in their second-round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs, and coach Chris Finch is taking responsibility for one of the key decisions that contributed to the season-ending loss.