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The Timberwolves’ backs are now officially against the wall.
The Spurs put them there on Tuesday in San Antonio.
San Antonio led for 98% of a pivotal Game 5, taking control early and only briefly relinquishing it in the third quarter before quickly reasserting its dominance en route to a 126-97 victory to take a 3-2 series lead.
Game 6 is set for 8:30 p.m. CDT Friday at Target Center.
Minnesota was in a similar spot two years ago, when it was blitzed by Denver in Game 5 in this same round, only to return home and thrash the Nuggets in Game 6 before ultimately claiming Game 7.
But in that series, the Wolves frequently felt like the better team with obvious physical advantages. That is not the case in this one. When Victor Wembanyama is on the floor, Minnesota is the one who looks outmatched.
He wasn’t on the floor for the final 65% of Game 4 following his ejection. But the Frenchman returned to action Tuesday and dominated the game in every sense. Wembanyama finished with 27 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots.
The Spurs won his 33 minutes by 24 points.
Trailing by 12 at the break, Minnesota made its best push of the game to knot the affair at 61-all in the third. But San Antonio responded immediately with a 30-12 push to effectively put the game on ice.
San Antonio’s 29-point victory is Minnesota’s fourth-largest playoff loss in franchise history. The largest? The Wolves’ 38-point defeat at the hands of the Spurs in Game 2.