Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs got a big win in Game 2 (Photo via X)
The San Antonio Spurs lost Game 1 by two points. In Game 2, the Spurs wasted little time reminding the Minnesota Timberwolves why San Antonio was the heavy favorite going into this series. By halftime, the Timberwolves trailed 59-35 and it wasn’t much longer before the competitive part of the game was in the rearview mirror. San Antonio’s 133-95 victory knotted the series 1-1 as the series shifts north to Minnesota.
Stats: Spurs vs. Timberwolves
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Spurs vs. Timberwolves – Final Grades
Victor Wembanyama
Wembanyama played a tougher brand of basketball early on to get the Spurs off on the right foot. He scored three baskets at the rim in the first quarter, battled on the boards and remained active on defense. Wembanyama’s wise play made a big difference for the good guys. His three-point shot is still wonky and he’s still not getting to the line much but he did a whole lot better in Game 2. He made the Timberwolves pay for not sending help his way by scoring 19 points in 26 minutes. Defensively, while he didn’t have the gaudy block number, he was still a monster on the glass and a force to be reckoned with on that end. Good improvement.
Grade: A-
De’Aaron Fox
Like Wembanyama, Fox’s improvement made a big difference. After being pretty damn bad in Game 1, the speedy guard was a lot better in the encore. Following a scoreless first half the last time we saw him, Fox led both teams with nine points at the end of the first quarter and he had 14 points at halftime. He wasn’t needed much after intermission but he legitimately set the tone and was a big reason why the Spurs were able to make this one a laugher. Well done.
Grade: A-
Stephon Castle
The good: Castle had 21 points in 24 minutes. He hit 6-of-10 field goal attempts and all nine of his free throws. His ability to attack the basket and get to the line was very valuable. Castle also played physical defense, ran the offense well and competed at an extremely high level. He’s looking like the real deal — and it’s exciting to see. The bad: Castle had five turnovers — more than twice as many as anyone else on the team. He also found himself in foul trouble for the third straight game; the only reason he didn’t foul out was because he sat the fourth quarter. Castle needs to play a little bit smarter (but, I mean, man, I’d hesitate to mess with his play too much because he’s playing so incredibly hard right now).
Grade: A-
Devin Vassell
Vassell’s night will be remembered for that pre-jump, follow-through-only three-pointer that had to be seen to be believed. Other than that, there wasn’t much to write home about. He played decent defense but we’ve seen better. His efficiency offensively was lacking. The only part of his play that was above average was his decision-making when it came to passing the ball. Vassell wasn’t bad but he didn’t really move the needle outside of that one shot.
Grade: B-
Julian Champagnie
Champagnie caught fire in the third quarter to help end this game prematurely. He was 4-for-4 from deep in the third and the Timberwolves were done once the smoke cleared. Offensively, Champagnie didn’t do much outside of that stretch but I liked his defensive intensity throughout the evening. Even though he missed the potential game-winner in Game 1, he looked to be having fun in Game 2 — which is a good sign for him going forward.
Grade: B+
Dylan Harper
Another outing, another great game by Harper. In 22 minutes, he totaled 11 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals — and his play was even better than those statistics suggest. Offensively, his confidence was palpable and it felt like the Spurs were in good hands whenever the rookie was at the helm. From scoring to playmaking, he was sublime. Defensively, Harper rebounded well, played solid one-on-one defense, and the quickness of his hands led to deflections and forced turnovers. Harper is in a super good groove right now — let’s hope his confidence remains high and he keeps being a difference-maker off the bench.
Grade: A-
Keldon Johnson
The good: Johnson’s rebounding has been iffy at times in the postseason but he was back to beasting in Game 2. His physicality and effort levels were sky high. He drove to the basket with relentlessness, which led directly to eight free throw attempts in 19 minutes of action. The bad: Johnson’s finishing left a lot to be desired. He just looked uncharacteristically discombobulated when trying to score at the hoop. Johnson finished 2-for-8 from the field and added three missed free throws. Overall: The effort and enthusiasm were there — but his actual skill was missing in action at times.
Grade: C
Carter Bryant
After missing Game 1 with a foot injury, Bryant was back in black for Game 2 — and I felt like he made a notable difference in the affair. Offensively, he shot with confidence and had a powerful dunk in transition. He’s looking less and less like a rookie when it comes to making decisions on the fly. Defensively, sure he fouled a lot (five fouls in 16 minutes) but his fierceness and burliness helped the Spurs handle a rugged Minnesota squad. Bryant can’t just hack his way to the positive side of the ledger but he added enough defensive highlights to justify grading this as an above average showing.
Grade: B
Harrison Barnes
Uh, yeah, it’s cool that Barnes showed some signs of life. He put up 12 points in 15 minutes. However, it must be noted that all 12 of Barnes’ points came in the fourth quarter. Considering the fourth had the intensity of a summer league game, there’s still a giant question mark regarding whether the veteran has the chutzpah to perform well in the heart of a true playoff game. Barnes hasn’t looked like someone ready to drop bombs in the postseason — and this performance doesn’t really change that.
Grade: C+
Luke Kornet
Kornet’s value doesn’t jump off the score sheet but you can see proof of it. In just 13 minutes, the backup center had three blocks and two steals. While he only scored one basket and grabbed just two rebounds, Kornet’s activity on defense was a big-time asset to the team. As a result, he was more than able to hold the fort while Wembanyama sat. If he can play defense at this high level consistently, the Timberwolves are going to find it difficult to find moments when the lane is open for business.
Grade: A-
Mitch Johnson
Coach Mitch adjusted well after the Game 1 disappointment. He helped Wembanyama and Fox find their way early. His energetic ways on the sidelines kept the Spurs amped on the defensive end. The playcalling and rotation were fine. To get a Game 2 win without expending much energy was about the best San Antonio could have hoped for after what happened in the first game.
Grade: A-