The San Antonio Spurs came out firing in Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, taking a 59-47 lead into halftime at home on Wednesday night. Victor Wembanyama, who avoided suspension after his early ejection in Game 4, dominated the first half with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Wembanyama erupted for 18 points and 6 boards in the first quarter alone, leading the Spurs to a 34-30 edge after the opening period. He shot 8-of-6 from the field, including 2-of-3 from deep, and knocked down 4-of-5 free throws in the first 8 minutes and 40 seconds. His performance included several emphatic dunks, but he also endured a controversial moment when Rudy Gobert was called for a Flagrant 1 foul for apparently undercutting him on a drive, sending Wembanyama hard to the floor. Fortunately, he was not injured.
San Antonio extended its lead to as many as 18 points in the second quarter after opening with a 9-0 run. Wembanyama threw down an alley-oop dunk and continued to dominate inside, helping the Spurs build a 58-40 cushion. However, the Timberwolves responded with a mini-run late in the half. In a heated moment, Naz Reid shoved Wembanyama after a play, drawing a technical foul. It was Reid’s third foul of the half, all committed against Wembanyama.
At the break, the Spurs held a comfortable 12-point advantage. The series entered Game 5 tied at 2-2 after Minnesota won Game 4 in San Antonio, a game in which Wembanyama was ejected early.
Key first-half stats:
– Spurs: Victor Wembanyama 21 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks; De’Aaron Fox 12 points, 3 assists, 1 rebound; Keldon Johnson 8 points, 2 rebounds; Stephon Castle 5 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists.
– Timberwolves: Ayo Dosunmu 9 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals; Naz Reid 8 points, 4 rebounds; Anthony Edwards 8 points, 1 assist; Jaden McDaniels 7 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist; Julius Randle 6 points, 3 rebounds.
Starting lineups:
– Spurs: Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle
– Timberwolves: Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Anthony Edwards, Ayo Dosunmu
