The closest conference semifinal series in the NBA playoffs heads back to San Antonio for the crucial Game 5 with the series tied at two games apiece. Minnesota leveled the series with a 114-109 win on Sunday taking advantage of Victor Wembanyama’s ejection.
The series has been close with three of the first four games decided by 7 points or less. The exception was the last game played in San Antonio when the Spurs won 133-95. Despite the series being tight the Spurs opened as a 10.5-point favorite on the early NBA Playoff spread.
Timberwolves at Spurs Preview
Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinal series between the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, TX. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET with the game televised live on NBC.
Public Betting Odds Factors
- For the first time in his NBA career Victor Wembanyama was ejected from a game when a vicious elbow caught a Minnesota player. A flagrant 2 was assessed and the play will be reviewed by the NBA to determine additional punishment.
- It’s unlikely the NBA would suspend an MVP contender in a tied conference semifinal series, but the result could change how Wembanyama and the Spurs play moving forward. If Wemby is suspended it’s an obvious blow to the Spurs. And if he plays the aggression will be muted making him less effective.
- De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper kept San Antonio in the game after Wemby’s ejection, combining for 68 points. The Spurs held the lead until late in the fourth quarter even without Wemby, who was ejected early in the second quarter.
- The absence of Wembanyama was felt more on the defensive end with Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle and Naz Reid scoring huge points late in the fourth to help put the game away. The Wolves didn’t take full advantage with the DPOY out of the game, but they owned the middle in the latter stages.
- Winning on the road isn’t easy in the NBA and it’s increasingly difficult in the playoffs. Going against teams with a distinct home court edge the Wolves are 2-3 in playoff road games, stealing one in Denver in the first round and taking Game 1 of this series.
- The Spurs were efficient on offense during the regular season and that’s continued into the playoffs. However, they have been inconsistent with their three lowest scoring postseason games all resulting in losses, two of them in this series. San Antonio tallied 102 points in Game 1 and scored 109 in Game 4.
Timberwolves at Spurs Predictions
- The status of Wembanyama for Game 5 is a critical point in the series. A MVP contender, Wemby averaged a double-double during the season with 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds while leading the NBA in blocked shots. There is enough offense to pick up the scoring slack but without their rim protector the Spurs are vulnerable to the Wolves front line.
- Two weeks after what appeared to be a consequential knee injury, Anthony Edwards played his fourth straight game in this series, eclipsing 40 minutes and 30 points in each of the last two. Edwards ignited a comeback in Game 4 scoring 36 points and the teams cashed the OVER on the NBA Playoff odds for a third consecutive game.
Timberwolves at Spurs Betting Tips
- At the time of this writing the Wolves were a 10.5-point dog. They are 1-6 in their last 7 playoff games when catching double digit points with the win coming in Game 1.
- The Spurs are 9-4 against the NBA betting line in their last 13 games overall.
- San Antonio has covered the spread in 57.8 percent of its games, second highest in the NBA.
Timberwolves at Spurs Head to Head and Key Stats
- Five of the last six games between the teams this season were decided by 7 points or less.
- The OVER has cashed in the last three games and in seven of the last nine overall.
- Edwards dropped 55 points on the Spurs in a regular season game and averaged nearly 30 points against them in 7 games this season. He totaled just 30 points in the first 2 games of the series after returning from a knee injury.
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