Preview: Wembanyama vs. Minnesota — Can San Antonio Build on Their Success?
On May 10, the fourth game of the NBA playoff series between Minnesota and San Antonio will take place. In the third game, Victor Wembanyama scored 39 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, leading his team to a 115-108 victory and a 2-1 series lead.
Main Event
On May 10, 2026, at the Target Center in Minneapolis, the fourth game of the NBA Western Conference semifinal series between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the San Antonio Spurs will be held. The visitors lead the series 2-1 after a resounding win in the third game, and now French center Victor Wembanyama has a chance to put the Wolves on the brink of elimination.
The game is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 PM Eastern Time. It will be broadcast on NBC and streamed on Peacock. Bookmakers and computer projections expect a hard-fought battle: the Spurs enter the court as favorites with a -4.5 point spread, and analytical models predict a final score of 118-113 in favor of the Texans.
Details and Statistics
The third game of the series, played on May 8, will go down in history as one of the greatest individual performances in NBA playoffs. Victor Wembanyama scored 39 points on phenomenal shooting — 13 of 18 from the field (72%), including 3 of 5 from three-point range, and 10 of 12 from the free-throw line. The 22-year-old Frenchman also added 15 rebounds (14 defensive), 5 blocks, and 1 assist.
Wembanyama's achievement is historic. He became only the fourth player in league history to record at least 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks in a playoff game. Previously, only Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (twice), Hakeem Olajuwon (three times), and Shaquille O'Neal (three times) had done so. The uniqueness of the moment is underscored by the fact that Wembanyama is the only one to reach this statistical milestone while shooting over 70% from the field.
A key factor in the Spurs' victory was the fourth quarter, in which Wembanyama single-handedly scored 16 points. Notably, one of the decisive shots was a three-point spin fadeaway, which Victor said he had been practicing under the guidance of Hakeem Olajuwon. That shot essentially dashed Minnesota's hopes of a comeback. After the game, the French prodigy smiled and commented on the opponents' tough play: "That's how it is. After all, they are Wolves."
Besides Wembanyama, significant contributions to San Antonio's win came from De'Aaron Fox (17 points) and Stephon Castle, who recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 assists. For Minnesota, Anthony Edwards stood out as usual, scoring 32 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. Naz Reid added 18 points and 9 rebounds.
For the Spurs, this victory was their fifth road win in the current playoffs — Mitch Johnson's team remains undefeated on the road this postseason.
Context and Significance
The matchup between Minnesota and San Antonio has unexpectedly become one of the most exciting duels of the second round. After the Timberwolves sensationally won the first game in San Antonio (104-102), where Wembanyama set a playoff record with 12 blocks but struggled offensively (5 of 17 from the field), many experts talked about a possible upset.
However, the Spurs' response was swift and ruthless. In the second game, Johnson's team crushed the opponent 133-95, and Wembanyama began methodically correcting his offensive mistakes, scoring 19 points on 7 of 15 shooting. The third game was the culmination of this process: the Frenchman shifted into another gear and delivered perhaps the best game of his still-young playoff career.
For Minnesota, the situation is close to critical. Chris Finch's team has faced systematic defensive issues: in the first three games of the series, the Wolves allowed an average of 115.6 points. Despite the brilliant play of Anthony Edwards and support from Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels, the Timberwolves have no answer for Wembanyama's versatility, as he is equally effective in the paint and on the perimeter.
Adding extra spice to the situation is the coaching duel: San Antonio head coach Mitch Johnson, who took over after the departure of legendary Gregg Popovich, has shown excellent tactical acumen. After the loss in the first game, he managed to radically restructure the offense, easing the load on Wembanyama and finding additional resources in Castle and Fox.
What's Next / Preview of the Next Game
The fourth game of the series will take place on May 10 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, starting at 7:30 PM Eastern Time. For the Timberwolves, this game is the last chance to stay in the series before returning to San Antonio, where the fifth game will be held on May 12.
Minnesota's coaching staff, led by Chris Finch, faces a daunting task. The team, it seems, will abandon the use of Mike Conley in the starting lineup, as he played only 4 minutes in the third game. Likely, the Wolves will bet on a more athletic and mobile lineup capable of switching on defense and limiting Wembanyama's open three-point attempts.
The key question of the game is whether any of Minnesota's big men — Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid, or Jaden McDaniels — can at least partially contain the French phenomenon. In the third game, none of them succeeded, leading to Wembanyama's 39 points on 72% shooting.
Analytical models predict high-scoring basketball: the computer projection points to a total of 230.6 points, with the over/under set at 217.5. This suggests that experts expect an open game with an emphasis on offense, which theoretically favors San Antonio with their rich offensive arsenal.
If the Spurs win, they will take a 3-1 series lead and have a triple match point — the opportunity to close out the series as early as May 12 on their home court. If Minnesota evens the series, it will turn into a three-game mini-tournament where the psychological advantage could swing toward the Wolves. However, for that to happen, Finch's team will need to rise to the occasion and find an antidote to what Wembanyama himself calls "a gift on both ends of the floor."
— Editorial Team
