Spurs clinch Western Conference finals berth, eliminate Timberwolves 139-109 in Game 6

San Antonio closed out Minnesota with its cleanest offensive game of the series on Friday, putting up 139 points in a 30-point win at Target Center. The Spurs won the Western Conference semifinal 4-2 and advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 2017, according to NBA.com. Stephon Castle led San Antonio with 32 points and 11 rebounds, and De'Aaron Fox added 21 points and nine assists as the Spurs shot 55.7% from the field and 47.4% from 3-point range. Minnesota never recovered from San Antonio’s second-quarter surge. The Spurs finished with a 60-29 rebounding edge and 34 assists, while the Timberwolves shot 37.7% and got only three points from Julius Randle. Anthony Edwards scored 24 points for Minnesota, and Naz Reid added 18. ### How did San Antonio break the game open so fast? San Antonio took control with a 20-0 run in the second quarter and led 65-45 at halftime, NBA.com’s playoff page said. (nba.com) The Spurs had six players in double figures and got scoring from both the starting group and the bench, which kept Minnesota from cutting into the margin after the break. Castle set the tone early with efficient scoring and all-around play. (nba.com) The second-year guard finished 11-for-16 from the field, 5-for-7 from 3-point range and added six assists, according to the official box score. Fox went 8-for-10 from the field, and rookie Dylan Harper scored 15 points in 25 minutes off the bench. ### Which numbers told the story of Game 6? (nba.com) The rebounding margin was the clearest indicator. San Antonio collected 60 rebounds to Minnesota’s 29, including 12 offensive boards, and turned that extra possession game into a steady scoring advantage. The Spurs also blocked 13 shots, with Victor Wembanyama recording three and Luke Kornet four. The backcourt production also stood out. (nba.com) Castle, Fox and Harper combined for 68 points, nearly half of San Antonio’s total, while Wembanyama added 19 points, six rebounds and three blocks in under 28 minutes. Julian Champagnie chipped in 18 points, including four 3-pointers. ### What did Minnesota get, and where did it fall short? Edwards was Minnesota’s top scorer with 24 points, but he shot 9-for-26 and the Timberwolves got little frontcourt production from their regular starters. (nba.com) Randle shot 1-for-8 and Gobert went scoreless in 21 minutes, according to the NBA box score. Ayo Dosunmu had 10 assists, and Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 21 points off the bench. Edwards acknowledged San Antonio’s play after the loss. “I just tip my hat to them,” he said, according to the Associated Press game report. ### What does this series say about the Spurs’ rotation? The six-game series showed how much San Antonio relied on depth around Wembanyama. NBA.com listed series averages of 120.7 points, 50.2 rebounds and 25.8 assists for the Spurs, with Wembanyama leading the team at 19.8 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. (nba.com) Minnesota averaged 104.5 points in the series. (apnews.com) Friday’s closeout fit that pattern. San Antonio got 18 points from Champagnie, 11 from Devin Vassell and 15 from Harper, while Fox and Castle controlled the game from the perimeter. ### When do the Spurs play Oklahoma City? Oklahoma City is next after sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers in the other Western Conference semifinal, NBA.com said. The Thunder hold home-court advantage in the Western Conference finals. (nba.com) Game 1 is scheduled for Monday, May 18, in Oklahoma City, with a 7:30 p.m. Central start, according to local schedule reports and NBA playoff listings. (nba.com) The NBA’s official playoff schedule page said conference finals begin May 19-20 and is updated as matchups are finalized. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2)