Shai spoke about the difficulty of navigating the paint against the Spurs‘ star during Game 1, the video was shared on X by Justin Martinez. “He’s very tall, very long and he deters a lot of things at the rim. You’ve got to be smart when you go in there. Be patient, but also be aggressive and don’t be too timid,“ Gilgeous-Alexander noted.

While he hinted at potential adjustments for the next matchup, Shai was careful not to reveal too much to the media before Wednesday’s game. “I probably wouldn’t want to say in public because I don’t want to give any answers away. But yeah, it’s obviously challenging,” he added, emphasizing that his team must find a way to remain aggressive without losing their composure.

Can the Thunder stop Wembanyama?

Wembanyama was an unstoppable force in Game 1, putting up a historic performance with 41 points and 24 rebounds to lead San Antonio to a 122-115 road victory. His ability to hit a logo three-pointer to force second overtime while simultaneously recording 3 blocks showed exactly why he is considered the most unique defensive and offensive threat in the NBA playoffs.

The Spurs rely heavily on Wembanyama to anchor their entire system, and his 41-point outburst proved that he can take over a game even against elite defenders like Chet Holmgren. For Oklahoma City, the primary goal for Game 2 will be finding a way to draw the big man away from the rim to create high-percentage opportunities that were missing in the opener.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who struggled with a 7-of-23 shooting night under Wembanyama’s shadow, will need to be the catalyst for this change by using his midrange game to keep the defense honest. If the Thunder can master the balance of patience and aggression that Shai mentioned, they have the talent to level the series before it shifts to San Antonio on Friday.

Speaking to reporters after the Timberwolves were officially eliminated, McDaniels was remarkably candid about the physical impossibility of shooting over the young star. “Wemby is probably the greatest defender I ever played against. Him being so tall and so long, it was hard to get to the rim. That’s pretty much the most part,” McDaniels explained.

The Timberwolves’ forward noted that while he could technically reach his preferred areas on the floor, the sheer length of the Spurs‘ center made scoring nearly impossible. “I was able to get to my spots but playing Wemby, he’s huge. He’s so tall. He’s the greatest defender I ever played against,” he added, emphasizing the massive impact the Frenchman had on the series.

Timberwolves are open after playoff loss

Beyond the physical challenges on the court, McDaniels highlighted internal issues regarding the team’s “moodiness” that need to be addressed before next season. He suggested that players must learn to be happy for their teammates’ success even on off-nights, noting that being more together and selfless is the first step toward becoming a truly elite championship contender.

Naz Reid echoed these sentiments when discussing how Minnesota can catch up to dominant western powers like San Antonio and Oklahoma City in the near future. “Probably just the moodiness. You look at both of those teams and they’re playing for one another… I think we have more than enough talent… But just being less moody,” Reid remarked to the media.

The consensus in the locker room is that while the talent is undeniable, the mental fortitude and selflessness of the squad must improve to match their rivals. If the Timberwolves can successfully shed this inconsistent attitude and play with more joy for one another, they believe they have the necessary tools to finally overcome the defensive hurdles posed by stars like Wembanyama.

Following the emotional series victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the conference semifinals, the star center emphasized the respect he has for his next opponent. “We know it’s gonna be a whole different series. This is a team [OKC] that knows how to play basketball. They know their stuff,” Wembanyama stated during his post-game media availability.

The Spurs leader made it clear that preparation will be the primary key to overcoming the top-seeded Thunder squad in this upcoming matchup. “Will watch all their games and do the scouting and try to execute over there in Game 1,” he added, highlighting the professional approach the Silver and Black must maintain to secure an early lead.

Wembanyama vs Thunder

Looking at the history of this matchup, Wembanyama has consistently produced strong numbers against Oklahoma City, including a standout 2023-24 season where he averaged 20 points and 13 rebounds. Even in a more defensive-oriented 2025-26 campaign, he managed to put up 18.4 points and 9.2 boards per game, proving he can impact the box score regardless of the defensive pressure.

One of the most impressive aspects of his performance against the Thunder is his ability to protect the rim, averaging 2.2 blocks per game across their head-to-head meetings. His length and mobility are essential for neutralizing the Thunder’s quick drives to the basket, making him the defensive anchor that San Antonio absolutely needs.

For the Spurs to pull off an upset, keeping Wembanyama healthy and out of foul trouble will be the most critical factor throughout the entire series. His presence on the floor changes how the Thunder attack the paint, and if he can maintain his current level of efficiency, the Spurs have a legitimate chance to shock the league and advance to the NBA Finals.

One X user pointed out that if Green had done what Wembanyama did, people would be calling for a suspension. Green responded by taking it a step further. “Y’all have called for my career for less,” Green wrote.

Green, of course, has an extensive history that would influence any possible punishment. Wembanyama’s record is nowhere near as extensive. On the other hand, it is worth noting that Green would not benefit at all from being cleared in this case. And there is a lot of truth to that. There are still opinions debating whether that action deserved an ejection because Wemby did not do it intentionally; if it had been Green, the opinions would have been different.

Will Wemby be available?

On some occasions, depending on the severity of the flagrant foul, the player can be suspended for a certain number of games. On this occasion, Wemby was not affected by that. Game 5 is next in San Antonio, and the biggest headline is that Spurs superstar center Victor Wembanyama will be available for selection. It was not an injury situation that would have kept him out, but rather a controversial call that had already received a resolution.

After review, the NBA announced Monday that Wembanyama would face no further discipline, which in essence meant no suspension or fine. He is now eligible for Game 5 on Tuesday at home court.

This was Wembanyama’s first-ever ejection in his career. Perhaps that played a role in the league’s decision not to punish him further. The Frenchman is not known for being a dirty player, or at least has not shown that side in his game.

How did the situation happen?

Wembanyama was ejected early in the second quarter for elbowing Timberwolves forward Naz Reid in the neck area while battling for a rebound. It was initially called a foul, but later upgraded to a Flagrant 2, which meant the French superstar was handed the automatic ejection hammer blow.

Wembanyama, who came into the game on the back of a 39-point performance in Game 3, only saw 12 minutes of action. After the game, attention turned to the league to see if his punishment would go beyond an ejection. However, the 7-foot-4 superstar was only handed a slap on the wrist.

When asked about the possibility of Wembanyama being sidelined, Edwards admitted he might actually prefer seeing the big man on the court. “Honestly, I think it was kind of harder [without him]. Of course, they’re a really great team with him on the floor, but they play a lot slower when he’s out there because everything revolves around him,” Edwards told reporters.

It is a bold perspective considering Wembanyama is the league’s premier rim protector, averaging a staggering 4.4 blocks per game this postseason. However, “Ant-Man” may have a point; the Spurs’ offensive identity is so tethered to Wembanyama’s gravity that their pace noticeably shifts when he anchors the unit.

These comments follow Edwards’ earlier remarks prior to Game 4, where he emphasized his focus on cracking the code of the Spurs’ defensive scheme and finding a definitive way to neutralize Wembanyama for the remainder of the series.

Spurs clear Wembanyama for pivotal Game 5

Despite the uncertainty following his late-game exit in Game 4, a report has confirmed that Wembanyama will be available for Game 5. The star center was ejected in the previous contest following an altercation with Timberwolves‘ forward Naz Reid, sparking league-wide debate over a potential suspension that never materialized.

As both squads gear up for a pivotal tilt, Wembanyama continues to demonstrate a championship-level urgency. Now in his third NBA season, the young cornerstone appears singular in his focus: delivering a title to the San Antonio faithful.

Projected lineups for Game 5

With both Edwards and Wembanyama expected to lead their respective squads onto the floor, the supporting casts will be under the microscope. Both head coaches are facing a chess match as they look to adjust their rotations and find the tactical edge in a series that has become a defensive grind.

Here are the projected starting lineups for tonight’s Game 5:

• Spurs:
  • PG De’Aaron Fox
  • SG Dylan Harper
  • SF Stephon Castle
  • PF Keldon Johnson
  • C Victor Wembanyama

• Timberwolves:
  • PG Mike Conley
  • SG Anthony Edwards
  • SF Jaden McDaniels
  • PF Julius Randle
  • C Rudy Gobert

While the ejection was immediate, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, he will not be suspended. “There will be no further discipline for Spurs star Victor Wembanyama after he was ejected for elbowing Naz Reid in Minnesota on Sunday night,” Charania wrote on his X account.

The NBA utilizes a point system for flagrant fouls; an automatic one-game suspension is only triggered once a player exceeds three points in a single postseason. The official decision will be announced by NBA League Office, which conducted a formal review of the incident.

As the series heads back to the floor tied at 2-2, the looming decision hangs over both locker rooms. While Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves look to capitalize on the momentum, the Spurs will have their franchise cornerstone for Game 5, according to Charania.

Understanding the NBA’s flagrant point system

Wembanyama’s ejection sparked significant debate regarding his status for the next game. To understand why he wasn’t immediately barred from Game 5, it’s important to look at the postseason point structure:

• Flagrant 1: 1 point
• Flagrant 2: 2 points
• Automatic Suspensions: Triggered once a player exceeds 3 total points in a single postseason.

Wembanyama avoids suspension and fine

Wembanyama was widely expected to face disciplinary fines following his early exit in Game 4. However, the NBA League Office’s review ultimately ruled in favor of the Spurs’ cornerstone, as Charania reported that no financial penalties are expected for the star rookie.

As the Spurs fight to keep their deep playoff run alive in a crowded Western Conference, if they were losing their defense star for Game 5 that could have proven to be the turning point of the series.

After Game 3, Edwards was extremely candid when acknowledging the difficulty of trying to square up against the 7-foot-6 French phenom. “They got somebody who 7-6 on the floor. (Wemby) takes up a lot of space,” Edwards said. “Just trying to figure out ways to find an open man around him because in the paint, he’s just everywhere.”

This will be key for the Timberwolves to manage to beat the Spurs with Wembanyama, who is hungry to win the championship, something similar to the first game, where he was defensively neutralized, because yes, he ended up setting a blocks record, but in scoring, he finished well below expectations.

Edwards and Wembanyama’s game

As one would expect, they had no answer for the sheer dominance of Victor Wembanyama. Despite a strong showing by Anthony Edwards, 32 points and 14 rebounds, Wembanyama was the usual force that could not be stopped as he finished with a playoff career-high 39 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks.

He shot 13-for-18 from the field, 3-for-5 from the 3-point line, and 10-for-12 from the free throw line. Wembanyama scored 16 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter.

In essence, Wembanyama changes the entire Timberwolves offense. He forces them to kick the ball out, limits driving attempts to the basket, and compels them to rush shots. Wemby became the fastest player to reach 100+ points and 30+ blocks in the NBA Playoffs. Meanwhile, Edwards is trying to persevere through these difficulties while recovering from a knee injury.

What is next for this series?

Game 4 will be held on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. CST/7:30 p.m. EST at Target Center in Minneapolis. We could be witnessing the beginning of the road to a series that will extend to a Game 7 for all NBA fans.

Finch was asked about officiating on Tuesday, and he was confused as to how clear goaltending could frequently get missed in a playoff game. Some were not even close to being clean blocks. The Timberwolves felt “at least four” of Victor Wembanyama’s 12 blocks were goaltends.

“You know the value of eight points in an NBA game? That’s 33 percent of his blocks,” said Chris Finch. And then Rudy Gobert joked, “I want that type of treatment, too,” which made clear their disagreement with the officiating decisions.

Controversial decisions during the game

Throughout the game, it was plainly obvious that the refs were giving Wembanyama a lenient whistle. Some fouls went uncalled. And then, on at least three occasions, Wemby had clear goaltending violations go uncalled, which was unusual, especially in the playoffs.

Wembanyama was credited with seven blocked shots in the first half, as the Wolves struggled to adapt to playing an opponent with such imposing rim protection after Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets rolled out the red carpet for them on nearly every drive in their first-round series win.

Wembanyama was aggressive in challenging shots on Monday night while facing his countryman and mentor, Rudy Gobert, who has a record four Defensive Player of the Year awards.

What will the Timberwolves do about it?

Finch said the Timberwolves would not submit any plays to the league for review because he knows that would not change the outcome of a game that has already been played. But the comments were already made, and it was a clear message to the league.

“We’re going to keep coming,” Finch said. “We’ve got to make some better decisions in how we attack the rim. But all credit to the guys for not being discouraged. We should’ve walked away with another eight points.”

In a masterclass of rim protection, Wembanyama swatted six blocks in the opening 14 minutes of Game 1. For context, Jokic recorded just five blocks across the entirety of his six-game postseason clash against Minnesota last year.

The French phenom didn’t stop there. Wembanyama finished the night with a career-high 12 blocks, a playoff performance that underscored exactly why he was the unanimous DPOY this season. However, despite his historic defensive stand, a motivated Timberwolves squad managed to weather the storm and steal a victory on the Spurs’ home floor.

San Antonio is now looking to bounce back after the 104-102 heartbreaker. With Anthony Edwards leading the charge and Julius Randle providing a physical secondary punch, the Wolves have officially put the NBA on notice that they are more than ready for the challenge of the second round.

Wembanyama: ‘I trust us’

Despite being the most dominant force on the floor, Wembanyama watched as his teammates struggled to find their rhythm from the perimeter. Following the loss, the Spurs‘ cornerstone was vocal about the adjustments needed to salvage the series in Game 2.

“We need to figure out what we can do better within the next 48 hours, and I have no doubt that we will. I trust us,” Wembanyama told reporters following the narrow defeat.

The atmosphere in San Antonio remains electric as fans wait to see if this young core can reclaim the franchise’s championship pedigree. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves have a newfound sense of belief, proving they can go toe-to-toe with giants like the Nuggets and Spurs alike.

To give an idea of what just happened in San Antonio, Wemby already had 10 blocks by the third quarter and added two more in the final stretch to complete 12, which shows his generational talent and how important he’ll be for the Spurs in the fight to win the title as a young team.

Wemby surpassed the formidable mark held by three players who had the record with 10 blocks, and they are the following:

• Andrew Bynum – 10
• Hakeem Olajuwon – 10
• Mark Eaton – 10

Wemby record was not enough

Despite the record achieved, the Spurs suffered a Game 1 home loss against the Timberwolves with a 104-102 result, where rushed decisions and not closing the game when they had the lead ended up costing them, even with Anthony Edwards with restricted minutes.

Wembanyama had an exceptional defensive performance, finishing the game with 11 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 blocks, a monstrous triple-double. But at the same time, he shot 5/17 FG and 0/8 from three in 40 minutes of play, which is impressive.

His matchup, Gobert, ended up having a strong game for the Timberwolves, showing his experience, finishing with 7 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks, but with almost 20 minutes less of playing time. His replacement was Naz Reid, who finished with 12 points and 9 rebounds. Something to add is the participation of Edwards with restricted minutes, in 25 minutes, he had 18 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.

A record tied by Wemby

The record he broke is impressive, and he was close to breaking another one in the first half of the game. Wembanyama tied Dwight Howard with 8 first-half playoff blocks for the most in the play-by-play NBA era. Howard had 8 in the first half in Game 1 on April 18, 2010, vs the Charlotte Bobcats.

After the game, Wembanyama credited the Spurs’ medical staff for being the unsung heroes who helped nurse him back to full health. “The Spurs have done an amazing job. I’m very happy about the way the protocol has been handled by all the parties. But my staff has been amazing. I’ve been really healthy starting on day one after the injury. Injury was weird, though, it was funny,” Wembanyama told ESPN’s Malika Andrews in his postgame interview.

They were now in a commanding position after taking a 3-1 series lead, and to make matters even more promising for the Spurs, Victor Wembanyama was cleared to return from a concussion on Sunday.

The big game from the Spurs and Wemby

On Sunday in Game 4 of their NBA playoffs first-round matchup against the Blazers, they stormed back from a double-digit deficit early in the game to win by double digits once more, 114-93.

Wembanyama proved to be every bit the difference-maker he had always been, as he did not look like he was suffering from rust or anything of the sort, as evidenced by his 27-point, 11-rebound, four-steal, and seven-block night. And yes, you are reading that right, 7 blocks on the night, tremendous.

On the Blazers side, Deni Avdija scored 26 points and Jrue Holiday added 20, but they were the only Portland starters who scored in the second half. And it was not enough against the Spurs’ depth, even more so with Wemby healthy.

The importance of Wembanyama would be fundamental for the Spurs’ playoff run. We were talking about a generational young player, surely something never seen before in the NBA, already being Defensive Player of the Year and on the podium for MVP. Hopefully, he stayed healthy, and we could enjoy this young team alongside Stephen Castle, Dylan Harper, and even Devin Vassel.