Preview: Wembanyama and the Spurs look to build on their success against Minnesota
After Victor Wembanyama's spectacular performance (39 points, 15 rebounds, 5 blocks) in Game 3, San Antonio took a 2-1 series lead. Can the French phenom outplay Anthony Edwards and Minnesota again in Game 4 on May 11?
Main Event
On May 11, 2026, the San Antonio Spurs will try to take a decisive step toward the Western Conference Finals. In Game 4 of the second-round NBA playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team has a chance to go up 3-1 and bring the series back to Texas with the opportunity to close it out at home. The game will be held at the Target Center in Minneapolis, with tip-off scheduled for 6:30 p.m. local time.
This game is the continuation of one of the most exciting individual matchups of the current playoffs: 22-year-old French phenom Victor Wembanyama against 24-year-old Minnesota leader Anthony Edwards. After three games, the Spurs lead the series 2-1, and Game 4 could either dramatically shift the balance of power or bring San Antonio one step closer to advancing to the next round.
Details and Statistics
Game 3, played on Friday, May 9, was a showcase for the 7-foot-4 Frenchman. Wembanyama scored 39 points (13 of 18 from the field), grabbed 15 rebounds, and recorded 5 blocks in 38 minutes on the court. His field goal percentage was 72.2%, and he made 10 of 12 free throws.
This performance made history. Wembanyama became only the fourth player in NBA history to reach 35+ points, 15+ rebounds, and 5+ blocks in a playoff game, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Shaquille O'Neal. Moreover, the Frenchman is the only one to do so with a shooting percentage above 70%. When asked by reporters about joining such company, Wembanyama smiled and said, "It's nice to be alongside the big guys," and admitted that his signature turnaround fadeaway over Rudy Gobert was executed thanks to lessons from Olajuwon himself.
The fourth quarter deserves special attention. With 6:18 left in the game, Jaden McDaniels drew Wembanyama's fifth foul, cutting Minnesota's deficit to a single point at 99-98. At that moment, coach Mitch Johnson sat his star on the bench — but only for a minute. Returning to the game with the risk of fouling out, Wembanyama scored 16 points in the final quarter, and his three-pointer in response to Naz Reid's shot with 3:06 left pushed the Spurs' lead to six points. After that, Minnesota never recovered.
De'Aaron Fox (17 points) and Stephon Castle (13 points, 12 assists, game-high plus-17) provided support for the leader. Importantly, the Spurs never trailed in the second half — even though their lead never reached double digits.
For Minnesota, Anthony Edwards scored 32 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, returning after a deep bone bruise in his left knee and playing only his third game since the injury. However, his efforts were not enough. Julius Randle made only one field goal in the first three quarters while committing four fouls, and Ayo Dosunmu and McDaniels combined to shoot just 7 of 24 from the field. Minnesota missed its first 12 shots of the game and overall missed 61 of 99 attempts.
Context and Significance
This matchup has all the makings of defining the Western Conference for the next decade. Two super talents — Wembanyama and Edwards — embody the new generation of NBA stars. As Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins wrote, their duel could be "a preview of playoff battles for the next ten years or so."
For Minnesota, the situation is complicated by roster issues. Point guard Donte DiVincenzo is out with an Achilles injury and will not help the team in Game 4. As of Saturday morning, the Spurs had no players on their injury list. This depth factor could prove decisive.
Possession statistics also favor San Antonio. In Game 3, Minnesota took 14 more shots, grabbed 15 offensive rebounds to the Spurs' 8 — but still lost. San Antonio neutralized that advantage with quality shooting: 6 of 10 from three-point range in the decisive third quarter. Additionally, full-court pressure and perimeter traps forced the Wolves into key mistakes.
San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson noted the team's progress in physical play: "That was one of our main focuses. We know teams plan to play us tough. But our physicality doesn't always show up the same way as other teams' — and that's fine. We want to grow in that aspect, and I think we've done that this season."
What's Next / Next Game Preview
Game 4 of the series will take place on Sunday, May 10 (local time in Minneapolis; in Europe and Asia, it will already be May 11) at the Target Center. Broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
For the Spurs, the task is clear: win, and the series moves to San Antonio for Game 5 on Tuesday, with the chance to close it out in front of the home crowd. San Antonio already executed a similar scenario in the first round against Portland — they lost home-court advantage but won two road games and took a 3-1 lead.
The main question is whether Minnesota coach Chris Finch can find an antidote to Wembanyama. Yahoo Sports highlights three possible adjustments: more minutes for Gobert, earlier double-teams against the Frenchman, and more three-point attempts on offense to avoid going into the paint against his shot-blocking. After Game 3, Edwards acknowledged the difficulty: "They've got a guy out there who's 7-6. He takes up a lot of space. In the paint, he's just everywhere."
If Minnesota loses this game, coming back from 1-3 against a team with Wembanyama would be nearly impossible. If the Wolves even the series, it becomes a best-of-three with home-court advantage for the Spurs. The stakes are incredibly high — and that's what makes Game 4 a must-watch.
— Editorial Team
