Spurs beat Timberwolves, lead series 3-2

San Antonio moved within one win of the Western Conference finals with a 126-97 home victory over Minnesota in Game 5 on May 12, according to NBA.com. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 27 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and three blocks in a game that turned decisively in the second half. San Antonio took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven semifinal and will try to close the series on May 15 in Minneapolis. Oklahoma City has already advanced and is listed by the league as the waiting opponent for the winner of Spurs-Timberwolves. ### How did San Antonio take control of Game 5? The Spurs built the win on paint scoring and shot-making. NBA.com said San Antonio held a 68-36 edge in points in the paint, shot 52.8% from the field and held Minnesota to 38.6% shooting. The margin grew to as many as 30 points as the Spurs pulled away in the third quarter and emptied the bench late in the fourth. (nba.com) Game 5 followed a swing in the series. Minnesota had evened the matchup at 2-2 with a 114-109 win in Game 4 before San Antonio responded at Frost Bank Center, according to the league’s series page. Through five games, the Spurs hold a 3-2 edge after winning Games 2, 3 and 5. ### What did Wembanyama do after Game 4? (nba.com) Wembanyama delivered his biggest line of the series in the Spurs’ most lopsided win. NBA.com listed him at 27 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and three blocks, and said the 17 rebounds were a postseason career high. The league also said he became the third-youngest player to record at least 25 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in a playoff game, behind Magic Johnson and Luka Doncic. (nba.com) After the game, Wembanyama kept the focus on the series score. “Job’s not finished. We have one more game to the Conference Finals,” he said in the NBA.com recap. ### Who else pushed the Spurs over the line? Keldon Johnson gave San Antonio a scoring lift off the bench. (nba.com) NBA.com said Johnson scored 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting and was still adding to the lead when the Spurs had already opened separation in the fourth quarter. Dylan Harper also contributed in the closing stages. NBA.com’s live recap credited the rookie with 12 points, including a fourth-quarter dunk as San Antonio kept Minnesota from mounting any late run. ### What went wrong for Minnesota? Minnesota never found a consistent offensive answer once San Antonio tightened the game in the paint. (nba.com) NBA.com said the Spurs pushed the ball out of Anthony Edwards’ hands and limited him to 13 shot attempts. The Timberwolves finished the night at 38.6% from the field and were outscored by 29 points overall. The result left Minnesota facing elimination despite opening the series with a road win in San Antonio on May 4. League schedule and series pages show the Timberwolves won Game 1 and Game 4 but lost the other three games by margins of 38, 7 and 29 points. (nba.com) ### What happens next in the series? Game 6 is scheduled for Friday, May 15, at 9:30 p.m. ET in Minnesota, according to NBA.com’s playoff schedule and series page. If the Timberwolves win, Game 7 would be on May 17 in San Antonio. If the Spurs win, the Western Conference finals matchup will be Oklahoma City against San Antonio, the league schedule shows. (nba.com) (basketball-reference.com)