San Antonio Spurs clinch 2026 West finals

San Antonio closed out Minnesota with its most lopsided win of the series on Friday, beating the Timberwolves 139-109 at Target Center to advance to the Western Conference finals. The Spurs won the best-of-seven semifinal 4-2 and now move on to face the Oklahoma City Thunder. Stephon Castle led San Antonio with 32 points and 11 rebounds, and Victor Wembanyama added 27 points and 17 rebounds. The NBA’s playoff bracket lists the Spurs as the winner of the West semifinal series, and the league’s game recap shows San Antonio finishing the series with a 35-30 edge in the fourth quarter after leading most of the night. ### How did San Antonio put the series away so decisively? Castle’s 32 points came in a game the Spurs controlled early and never let tighten. The Associated Press reported that San Antonio’s backcourt again set the tone, with Castle delivering one of the standout performances of the night as the Spurs eliminated Minnesota on the road. (apnews.com) Wembanyama’s 27 points and 17 rebounds gave San Antonio its usual interior anchor, while the NBA’s series page listed him as the Spurs’ leading performer across the matchup at 19.8 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. The league recap page for Game 6 also posted video availability for Wembanyama, Castle, De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper after the win, underscoring how broadly San Antonio’s offense was spread in the closeout. (apnews.com) ### What did the score say about the matchup? The 139 points were San Antonio’s highest total of the series and far above its 120.7-point series average listed on NBA.com. Minnesota averaged 104.5 points across the six games, according to the same page, and finished 30 points short in the elimination game. The 30-point margin also stood out because the series had included more competitive stretches earlier on. (nba.com) NBA.com’s series summary shows San Antonio winning four games to two, with Game 6 ending as the clearest separation between the teams. ### Who were the key figures in the closeout? Castle was the top scorer Friday, but Wembanyama remained the central figure in the series. (nba.com) NBA.com listed him as San Antonio’s series leader in points and rebounds, while Anthony Edwards led Minnesota at 23.7 points per game. Minnesota coach Chris Finch and Spurs coach Mitch Johnson both had postgame availability listed on the NBA recap page after Game 6. (nba.com) The Timberwolves’ season ended at home, while Johnson’s team moved on after winning twice in Minneapolis during the series, according to KENS 5’s report on the Western Conference finals schedule. ### Why is the Oklahoma City matchup next? (nba.com) Oklahoma City already had home-court advantage lined up for the next round, and the Western Conference finals bracket was set once San Antonio eliminated Minnesota. KENS 5 reported Friday night that the Thunder will host the first two games of the series. (nba.com) The same report said Oklahoma City entered the matchup after an 8-0 start to the postseason, while San Antonio had gone 4-1 against the Thunder in the regular season. That sets up a series between the defending champions and a Spurs team that has now reached the NBA’s final four. (kens5.com) ### When do the Spurs and Thunder play? Game 1 is scheduled for Monday, May 18, at 7:30 p.m. Central time in Oklahoma City, according to KENS 5. Game 2 is set for Wednesday, May 20, before the series shifts to San Antonio for Game 3 on Friday, May 22, and Game 4 on Sunday, May 24. (kens5.com) Game 5, if necessary, is scheduled for May 26 in Oklahoma City, followed by a possible Game 6 on May 28 in San Antonio and Game 7 on May 30 in Oklahoma City. KENS 5 reported that all conference finals games are set to air on NBC and Peacock, with ESPN Radio also carrying the series. (kens5.com)