Spurs eliminate Timberwolves in Game 6

San Antonio closed out Minnesota with a 139-109 win in Game 6 on Friday, May 15, sending the Spurs to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2017. Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 32 points and 11 rebounds, while Victor Wembanyama added 19 points in 27 minutes as San Antonio won the series 4-2. (tpr.org) Wembanyama’s postgame line — “I had to make a statement” — became the clearest quote from the closeout, coming after a series that had turned notably physical and included his Game 4 ejection in Minneapolis. The Guardian’s May 16 report tied the remark directly to San Antonio’s elimination win over the Timberwolves. (tournaments.com) The game itself was one-sided early. San Antonio shot 55.7% from the field, hit 18 of 38 from 3-point range and finished with a 60-29 rebounding edge, according to the box score. Fox Sports’ game data listed Castle as the top scorer, with De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper helping power the backcourt in a rout that left Minnesota trailing big for most of the night. (foxsports.com) Minnesota’s exit was abrupt and familiar. The Timberwolves were eliminated on their home floor, and coverage after the game noted it was the franchise’s third straight season-ending playoff loss by blowout margin. Anthony Edwards, who had carried Minnesota at points in the series, was part of a team that never established control in Game 6. (tournaments.com) The result set up a Western Conference finals matchup between the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder and the No. 2 seed Spurs. NBA.com’s playoff page lists Game 1 for Monday, May 18, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern in Oklahoma City, with Game 2 on May 20 and the series running, if necessary, through May 30. (nba.com) That next round is already being framed around the star matchup. NBA.com lists Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as Oklahoma City’s leading scorer entering the series and Wembanyama as San Antonio’s top statistical leader. Yahoo Sports and other outlets reported the Thunder had swept the Lakers in the other semifinal, leaving both West finalists with momentum entering Monday night’s opener. (nba.com)