Spurs stampede past Wolves, punch ticket to West finals

The young San Antonio Spurs arrived in Minneapolis facing their biggest playoff moment in nearly a decade. They left Target Center looking every bit like the NBA’s next powerhouse.

Behind a scorching performance from rookie guard Stephon Castle, the Spurs rolled past the Minnesota Timberwolves 139-109 Friday night to close out the Western Conference semifinals in six games and advance to the franchise’s first Western Conference Finals since 2017.

Why it matters: The Spurs are headed to their first Western Conference Finals since 2017, signaling the franchise’s rebuild has accelerated far ahead of schedule.

The big picture: San Antonio overwhelmed Minnesota from the opening tip, using its size, defense, and transition offense to bury the Timberwolves in Game 6.

• The Spurs outscored Minnesota 39-22 in the second quarter.
• San Antonio led by as many as 36 points.
• The Spurs shot 56% from the field and outrebounded the Timberwolves 60-29.

By the numbers:

• Stephon Castle: 32 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists.
• De'Aaron Fox: 21 points, 9 assists.
• Victor Wembanyama: 19 points and dominant rim protection.
• Spurs blocks: 13

What they’re saying: Castle delivered the biggest postseason game of his sophomore season, knocking down his first five 3-point attempts and controlling the pace throughout the night.

• "He was damn good," Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said of Castle. "We have a few guys on our team that are just that talented that when they do that, they take over, at times."
• "I think the biggest thing for me is staying consistent with my footwork, making every shot feel the same," Castle said postgame of his shooting improvements over the course of the season.

Between the lines: Minnesota never recovered after San Antonio unleashed a 20-0 second quarter run that completely flipped the game.

• Anthony Edwards scored 24 points but faced constant double teams.
• The Wolves struggled to generate offense against the Spurs’ length and interior defense.
• Naz Reid and Terrence Shannon Jr. sparked brief runs, but San Antonio answered every push.

The turning point: Fox briefly exited after an injury scare in the second quarter, but the Spurs never lost control as Castle and Wembanyama continued to dominate both ends.

What’s next: The Spurs will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals beginning Monday in Oklahoma City, a task they are ready for.

• “Of course, we’re confident, but we need to keep the right confidence level," Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama said of the matchup with OKC.