Victor Wembanyama answered his first career ejection with one of the most complete playoff games of his young career, and the San Antonio Spurs used that surge to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 126-97 in Game 5. The win gave San Antonio a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semifinals and moved the Spurs within one victory of the conference finals.
Wembanyama finished with 27 points, 17 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two 3-pointers, a line no player had posted in NBA postseason history since the 3-point line arrived in 1979-80. He did most of his damage early, scoring 18 points in the first quarter and helping San Antonio set the tone before Minnesota could settle in.
A fast response after Game 4
Two days earlier, Wembanyama was ejected after an errant elbow caught Naz Reid in the jawline and neck area. On Tuesday night, he showed a far calmer approach and said he wanted both energy and discipline after that setback.
San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson called the response “extremely mature,” while Devin Vassell had described the need for an “upset Vic.” Wembanyama said, “I feel they ain’t mutually exclusive. I’m looking for both.”
That balance showed early. Wembanyama scored 16 of his first-half points in a six-minute stretch and helped the Spurs build a lead that kept growing. When Minnesota called timeout with 5:44 left in the first quarter, he had already outscored the Timberwolves 16-11 by himself.
San Antonio controlled the paint and the tempo
The Spurs attacked inside throughout the night and finished with 68 points in the paint, compared with 36 for Minnesota. That total marked San Antonio’s second-most paint points in a postseason game since 1998 and the most by any team in a playoff game against a team featuring Rudy Gobert.
Minnesota tried to answer with physical defense, and Wembanyama absorbed contact from Gobert, Julius Randle and Jaden McDaniels. He did not lose composure, and his poise helped the Spurs stretch the lead as high as 30 points.
“I feel like I need to stay composed,” Wembanyama said when asked about the possibility of “rage-baiting” tactics. His teammates said that mindset changed the game for San Antonio.
Teammates praised his maturity
De’Aaron Fox said Wembanyama handled the contact without backing down. “He didn’t falter whenever he got hit,” Fox said. “And when he’s playing the way he played tonight, it’s hard to beat us.”
Stephon Castle also pointed to Wembanyama’s focus after the previous game. Castle said, “I feel like we got the Vic you’ve seen all year,” and added that Wembanyama’s “maturity level was off the charts.”
The Spurs’ effort also produced a notable team milestone. They won consecutive home playoff games by 29 points or more for the first time in franchise history.
Focus shifts to Game 6
Wembanyama declined to linger on the ejection after the victory and instead turned attention to Game 6 at Target Center in Minneapolis. He said the team needed to move on quickly and stay locked in on the next matchup.
“It was two days ago,” Wembanyama said. “I was focused on the game today. And now, I’m focusing on the game in Minnesota in three days. It’s the playoffs. We’ve got to move on, and I’ve got to care about my team.” The Spurs now carry a 3-2 lead into a series position they have historically managed well, as they are 16-3 in best-of-seven series when leading 3-2.