The San Antonio Spurs dominated the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 2, and the series is tied as they travel north to the Twin Cities.
The San Antonio Spurs roared back from their Game 1 loss, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night, 133-95, evening up the series.
In Game 1, Victor Wembanyama set a postseason record with 12 blocks, but only finished with 11 points. In Game 2, he was much more well-rounded, finishing with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and two blocks.
The Spurs jumped out to an early lead, and the game was basically over by halftime. After the Game 1 loss, fans knew that Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox--who also struggled in the opener--would be back in form, but the utter dominance on display in San Antonio was a lot to take in.
How Spurs Bounced Back in Game 2
While Wembanyama finished with 19 points, the Spurs were led by Stephon Castle, who finished with 21. After leading the Spurs in Game 1, Dylan Harper only scored 11 points, but he and Castle pushed the pace early in the game, kicking off a dominating Spurs' run.
In the opening frame, both teams struggled to get shots to fall, but the Spurs quickly found a rhythm as the game carried on. Minnesota, meanwhile, struggled from deep and at the rim, with Wembanyama altering shots and making his opponents think twice.
For the second game in a row, Anthony Edwards came off the bench for the Wolves, although he wasn't the inspiring force he was in Game 1. After scoring 18 points in the first game in 25 minutes, Edwards offered only 12 points, finishing with a game-worst plus/minus of -33.
Of course, just like San Antonio fans expected Wembanyama to bounce back after a rough Game 1, Wolves fans can assume that Edwards will bounce back. Granted, his knee injury prevents him from playing at an explosive level, although he is still crafty, strong, and one of the best players in the league. The series is just getting started, after all!
Edwards' poor showing aside, the Wolves struggled, as Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Jaden McDaniels all also scored only a dozen points apiece. The Spurs, meanwhile, had three players score more than that, with Wembanyama, Castle, Fox, Harper, Harrison Barnes, Devin Vassell, and Julian Champagnie all scoring double digits.
Unlike in the first round, there won't be an extra day of rest as the teams travel north to the Twin Cities. Game 3 will tip off on Friday night, with the Spurs looking to steal a game and set the tone on the road.