Victor Wembanyama’s hard foul involving an elbow and the resulting ejection ended up in a terrible way in Game 4, but he returned to the series with the presence of a true force of nature. He delivered a magnificent performance at the Frost Bank Center that helped push the San Antonio Spurs into a 3-2 series lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Momentum is now swinging in the Spurs’ favor, as Wembanyama has firmly put them in position to potentially set up a Western Conference Finals clash with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson was full of admiration for how he handled the emotional aftermath of the previous game.
“I think the one word I like to use is mature,” Johnson said following the game. “I think there was a lot that's happened in the last 48 hours. And I think how that young man came out tonight and played in a variety of ways in a variety of situations…was extremely mature.”
The job was simple but crucial for the Spurs, as they needed to protect home court. They are now just one win away from reaching the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2017, and Wembanyama and his teammates understand that the job is far from finished.
“We did what we were supposed to do at home,” Wembanyama said. “Came out, set the tone. We won, so that’s the point. Job’s not finished, we need one more game to get to the Conference Finals.”
Besides Wembanyama’s impact, the Spurs received strong contributions across the roster. Keldon Johnson provided a major spark off the bench with 21 points, while Stephon Castle added 17 points and six assists. De'Aaron Fox also played a key role by recording 18 points, five assists, and four rebounds.
Game 6 of the best-of-seven series now shifts to Minneapolis on Friday, with a potential Game 7 returning to San Antonio on Sunday if needed.
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