Victor Wembanyama recorded an NBA playoff record 12 blocks in Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but the Wolves won't let it stop them from getting downhill and attacking the paint.
The San Antonio Spurs fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night, dropping Game 1 of their second-round series 104-102. Despite lackluster play on offense from both Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox, the Spurs were able to stay in it.
Solid scoring games from Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell, and Julian Champagnie kept the Spurs afloat, and Wembanyama set an NBA playoff record with 12 blocks.
While Wembanyama was a net negative on offense (11 points, 5-of-17 shooting), his defense remained superb. The Wolves tried, and failed, to score at the rim all night long, but they will keep attacking with the same persistence as the series carries on.
Wolves Send Warning to Spurs, Wemby
With Anthony Edwards coming off the bench, the Wolves gave Terrence Shannon Jr. the starting nod. He finished with 16 points and five rebounds, with all of his five made shots coming at the rim.
Three times, including twice in the first two offensive possessions for Minnesota, Wembanyama blocked Shannon Jr. For the second-year player, that just comes with the territory, and he won't change up his playstyle just because Wemby is looming in the paint.
"He's going to have to block it every time," Shannon Jr. said. "I ain't going to stop going downhill. And I told him that when he said a little something after he blocked my second one. But he's going to have to block it every time. And I know he ain't going to block it every single time. I'm going to dunk on him. So there we go."
"Every time?" That won't happen, but the Spurs can live with holding Shannon Jr. to 5-of-13 shooting. Minnesota seems to forget that Wembanyama's defense is always a factor, and once his shots start falling, he will be a disruptive force on both ends of the floor.
Of course, the Wolves should have all the confidence in the world. They went into the Frost Bank Center and stole Game 1 all without their best player being at 100 percent, so if they want to ride the momentum, then more power to them.
Without changing up their style, however, fans can expect another block party in Game 2 on Wednesday.