Minnesota enters Game 6 with the same kind of pressure and opportunity it handled successfully in a similar spot against Denver two seasons ago. The Timberwolves now face a Spurs team built around Victor Wembanyama, and the key questions are whether Minnesota can start better, limit the 7-foot-4 star, and help Anthony Edwards play with more freedom.
A sharper opening from Minnesota
Game 6 may depend heavily on the first quarter, because Minnesota has repeatedly been forced to dig out of early deficits in this series. The Timberwolves have trailed by seven, seven, 15, six, and 15 points in the opening period, and they have lost the games in which they fell behind early.
That pattern has made the first minutes a clear problem for coach Chris Finch’s team. Reports from the locker room have pointed to lapses in game plan discipline, which makes a cleaner start one of the most direct fixes available.
Lineup changes could also be part of the answer. Naz Reid gives Minnesota a more flexible frontcourt option, while Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle have both been mentioned as players who could be adjusted in order to change the tone of the opening stretch.
Wembanyama remains the central test
San Antonio’s path still runs through Wembanyama, and the Spurs’ results have shown that clearly. The team is 7-3 in these playoffs, and its three losses came when Wembanyama was unavailable, limited, or forced out early by injury.
His Game 5 response showed why Minnesota has struggled to find a consistent answer. Wembanyama scored 18 of his 27 points in the first quarter, and his impact continues to shape the matchup on both ends of the floor.
Anthony Edwards summed up the challenge bluntly after Game 5, saying, “Some of the stuff that Wemby was doing, you don’t really have too much of an answer for it.” Finch echoed that view, calling Wembanyama “a really tough cover” and saying Minnesota has paid for mistakes in its coverage.
The numbers underline that impact. Wembanyama is averaging 20.4 points, 11.2 rebounds and 4.2 blocked shots in his first postseason while shooting 53.8% from the field.
Edwards needs more room to operate
Minnesota also needs a cleaner offensive structure for Edwards, who has faced repeated traps and double teams. When he gets caught too far from the action or has to handle the ball under pressure, the Wolves have had a harder time producing efficient offense.
That became especially important in Game 5, when Minnesota cut a 59-47 deficit to a 61-61 tie by changing how it used Edwards in the halfcourt. Julius Randle said the goal was to get Edwards off the ball and use screens so defenders could not trap him as soon as he crossed midcourt.
Edwards has still had productive stretches in the series, including a 36-point performance in Game 4. Even so, his playoff numbers are below his standard, with averages of 21.3 points and 2.8 assists on 44.2% shooting, along with 32.1% from three-point range.
His knee issues have been a factor in that drop, and Minnesota’s best offensive possessions have come when other ball-handlers help him avoid early pressure. That remains one of the most important adjustments to watch as Game 6 unfolds.
