Pounding The Rock
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What we learned from the Spurs Game 2 blowout win over the Timberwolves
Every now and then, you see something that’s just hard to put into words. A specifically timed (and context-dependent) moment of humor. An unusual sequence of events. A coincidence bordering on a glitch in the Matrix. And one of the first things you do is look around and see if anyone else is around to […]
Box Grades: Spurs dominate in nearly every aspect of the game to even series with Wolves
All wins count the same, and Minnesota still has reason to feel good. (After all, they now go back to Minneapolis knowing that holding serve at home will win them the series.) However, on a deeper level, I think that the nature of this victory could significantly alter the mindset of both teams. In the […]
Highlights: Spurs avenge Game 1 heartbreaker with complete domination of T-Wolves in Game 2
Coming off a heartbreaking Game 1 defeat, the Spurs eyed revenge against the Minnesota Timberwolves for Game 2 of their Western Conference Semifinals series. Carter Bryant returned from his ankle injury, so the Spurs were back at full strength. After a tough shooting first quarter for both teams, the Spurs managed to take a seven-point […]
Open Thread: What a difference one game can make
Game 1 went down to the wire, the Spurs lost on a missed Champagnie buzzer beater. Afterwards, there was no heads hung, no self deprication, just an urgency to watch film and make the necessary adjustments before heading into Game 2. Matthew Tynan of Corporate Knowledge reported that Spurs legend Gregg Popovich sat in on […]
Spurs bounce back in Game 2, blow out Timberwolves to tie series
The Spurs lost a close Game 1 on a missed Julian Champagnie buzzer-beater, and it seems it was the wakeup call they needed. San Antonio demolished the Timberwolves in Game 2, outexecuting them and outhustling them en route to a 133-95 win. At halftime, the visitors had only scored 35 points, and the biggest lead […]
San Antonio vs. Minnesota, Final Score: Spurs’ defense strangles Timberwolves, 133-95
The San Antonio Spurs had their backs to the wall, so they had a Game 7 mentality from tip-off, and they cruised their way to the finish line against the ravenous Minnesota Timberwolves. The Spurs are now going on tour and the winner of a Game 3 in a best of seven series when it’s […]
It’s time for Playoff Basketball: San Antonio Spurs vs Minnesota Timberwolves, Game 2
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much. A lot of writers say that a series doesn’t become interesting […]
Experience prevailed in Game 1, how the Spurs must adjust for Game 2
Before Game 1 against the Minnesota Timbwolves, I chatted with Thilo Widder from our sister site Canis Hoopus about how the Spurs would need to get more creative on offense to counter the Wolves’ size advantage. We saw that play out in a tight, defensive-minded Game 1 loss for the Spurs, so today, we discuss what […]
Open Thread: Spurs players seen shopping in town prior Game 1
When the Spurs won their fourth game against the Portland Trail Blazers, fans went honking. But the fans weren’t alone. Among the hundreds on the road celebrating, a member of the San Antonio Spurs took part in the festivities. Spurs sharp shooter Julian Champagnie, who finished the first round of the playoffs shooting over 60% […]
Game Preview: San Antonio vs Minnesota Timberwolves, Game 2
Even with Anthony Edwards on a minutes restriction, the Minnesota Timberwolves were able to come into the Frost Bank Center and steal both Game 1 and home court advantage from the Spurs. The style of play on display in that game was what was expected of the series from the outset: hard-fought, physical games that […]
What We Learned from the Spurs Game 1 loss to the Wolves
I’ve woken up under the weather. My mouth is dry. I’m either hot or cold, I can’t decide. I desperately want to distract myself from whatever it is I’m feeling right now, but I know, deep in my bones, that nothing good is going to come from looking at my phone. I need a coffee. […]
Spurs vs. Timberwolves player grades: Wembanyama breaks playoff block record in loss
Game One of the San Antonio Spurs second-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves was a tough, physical contest. Both teams struggled to score for most of the games. The Wolves went on a 14-2 run to build a 9-point lead, the biggest of the game. San Antonio surged back late, but fell just short in […]
Box Grades: Wemby shatters block records, but Spurs can’t complete 4th quarter comeback
Arrghhhh! How different would I feel if Champagnie had made that last shot? I could view Game 1 as a regrettable offensive underperformance that ultimately cost San Antonio nothing; in fact, it might have been framed as an event which underscored the power of Wemby’s defensive brilliance in the face of scoring struggles that are […]
Highlights: Victor Wembanyama hosts block party in loss to Timberwolves
Lower seed on the road shocks higher seed at home in Game 1. It’s a tale as old as time (e.g., The 2003 playoffs when the number 8 seeded Phoenix Suns stole Game 1 on the road against the number 1 seeded San Antonio Spurs). They say a playoff series truly doesn’t start until someone […]
Open Thread: Victor Wembanyama nails down triple-double in Spurs loss to Minnesota
Victor Wembanyama put his defensive stamp on Minnesota by accumulating three blocks in the opening moments of the game. He ended the night with twelve blocks, a career high for the newly crowned Defensive Player of the Year. Wemby also had thirteen defensive rebounds, making second chance points tough for the Timberwolves. Where the Spurs […]
Spurs’ last minute rally falls short as Wolves win Game 1
The game never felt comfortable. Not for a second. Every possession was a fight. Every shot was earned. And by the time the final seconds ticked away Monday night, the difference between the San Antonio Spurs and the Minnesota Timberwolves came down to a single shot that wouldn’t fall. San Antonio opened its Western Conference semifinal series with a […]
San Antonio vs. Minnesota, Final Score: Spurs fall in defensive slug-fest to Timberwolves, 102-104
After seven days off since beating the Trail Blazers in Game 5 of the first round, the San Antonio Spurs opened Round 2 against an injured but pesky Minnesota Timberwolves squad that gave them trouble in the regular season. It was an old school, defensive slug-fest most of the night, with neither team able to […]
It’s time for Playoff Basketball: San Antonio Spurs vs Minnesota Timberwolves, Game 1
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much. The Spurs have advanced to the second round of the playoffs […]
The Spurs need to get creative on offense to counter the Timberwolves’ size
It’s been seven days since the Spurs vanquished the Portland Trail Blazers in Round 1 of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, and now, it’s finally gameday again. For Round 2, the Spurs face a Minnesota Timberwolves squad whose size gave them plenty of trouble in the regular season (as well as Nikola Jokic in Round 1) […]
Open Thread: The NBA Conference Semifinals begin today
With all four Conference Finals set, it is time to discuss matchups, make predictions, and choose who you are rooting for. Western Conference Semifinals Jeje Gomez posted an excellent diagnosis of what we can expect, mentioning hoe the series will look with and without Anthony Edwards as his chance of playing looks sooner than later. […]
Game One Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
After a convincing 4-1 defeat of the Portland Trail Blazers in round one, the San Antonio Spurs will face a familiar foe in the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Wolves are red hot, coming off a 3-2 victory over the Denver Nuggets, despite missing several key rotation players. The series is set to be a defensive, physical […]
San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves series preview
The Spurs will host the Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals on Monday as heavy favorites despite the uncertainty surrounding Anthony Edwards’ status. Even if the injured superstar guard returns, he’ll likely be limited by two knee injuries, so San Antonio is expected to win this series, as long as they play […]
Report: Anthony Edwards could return to action sooner than expected
Anthony Edwards might not miss much of the Timberwolves’ series against the Spurs, per reports. He had been making progress and was initially likely to suit up in Game 3 or Game 4, according to ESPN’s Sham Charania. Apparently, his return could come earlier than that, as he has been listed as questionable for Game […]
Spurs vs. Timberwolves: Styles, matchups, and X-factors
Ah, yes, it’s the Spurs-Wolves second-round clash that everyone anticipated! No one around here penciled in a Spurs-Nuggets tilt, and there’s also no evidence of yours truly crashing out following San Antonio’s final regular-season loss to Denver. Now that we have our matchup set, it’s time to dive into some stylistic battles that could take […]
NBA releases broadcast schedule for Spurs vs. Timberwolves
The Eastern Conference has three series that have yet to be decided, with three game sevens between today and tomorrow, but at least the second round of the West is set, and the NBA has released the broadcast schedule for Games 1-4 of the 2nd seed San Antonio vs. the 6th seed Minnesota Timberwolves — […]