MINNEAPOLIS: Victor Wembanyama delivered a dominant all-around performance with 39 points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots as the San Antonio Spurs held off the Minnesota Timberwolves 115-108 in Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal series on Friday.
Wembanyama shot 13-for-18 from the field, including 3-for-5 from three-point range, to help San Antonio take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
“I’ve really been waiting since I’ve been in the league to live those moments, those high-stakes games,” Wembanyama said after the game on Prime Video. “That’s what I love. I’m built for this.”
De’Aaron Fox added 17 points for the Spurs, while Stephon Castle contributed 13 points and 12 assists.
Fox praised Wembanyama’s impact in his first postseason run.
“Greatness,” Fox said. “We see the work and the time that he puts into his game and his body. Teams are going to be physical with him, but he fights through that and produces.”
Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 32 points and 14 rebounds. Naz Reid scored 18 points off the bench and Jaden McDaniels added 17.
Minnesota guard Ayo Dosunmu said the Timberwolves allowed San Antonio to control the pace offensively.
“I don’t think our point-of-attack defense was where it needed to be,” Dosunmu said. “There were too many times that we made a shot and they came right back and got a good look.”
The Timberwolves cut the deficit to 106-103 with 3:27 remaining after Reid hit a three-pointer, but Wembanyama answered immediately with his third three of the night. Wembanyama and Dylan Harper then combined to make four free throws in the final minute to secure the victory.
San Antonio led 86-79 entering the fourth quarter after pulling away in the third.
Tempers flared during that period when Harper fell awkwardly after becoming tangled with McDaniels. As Harper remained on the floor, Castle confronted McDaniels before officials intervened. Castle and McDaniels were both assessed technical fouls, while Harper later returned to the game.
The teams were tied 51-51 at halftime after Minnesota erased an early double-digit deficit.
San Antonio stormed out to an 18-3 lead behind Wembanyama, who scored nine of the Spurs’ first 11 points. Minnesota missed its opening 13 field-goal attempts before Edwards sparked a comeback, ending the first quarter with a 31-foot buzzer-beater to trim the deficit to 23-22.
Game 4 will be played on Sunday in Minneapolis.
