Minnesota finished off Denver 4-2 to set up showdown with San Antonio in the second round.
After punching their ticket to the second round on Tuesday, the Spurs found out their next opponent on Thursday night.
San Antonio is set for a showdown with the Minnesota Timberwolves following their 4-2 series win over the Denver Nuggets.
The No. 2 vs. No. 6 matchup in the Western Conference gets started on May 4 inside Frost Bank Center. Ahead of opening tip, here's what San Antonio can expect from the Wolves.
In a feat that was not common throughout the NBA this season, Minnesota was actually the winner of the regular season series with the Spurs. Through three prior meetings, the Wolves captured two of three, including a sweep in the Twin Cities.
However, San Antonio was without frontman Victor Wembanyama in one of those affairs, which ended in a loss, and had the Spurs within one point in the other defeat.
Back in San Antonio, Wemby and the Spurs downed the Wolves by three in the final regular season meeting.
Needless to say, it was an exciting set of games between the two squads throughout the season. So that should mean that the playoffs should be no different, right?
Well, there's some of the bad news surrounding the series. Minnesota is beat up, to put it plainly. The Wolves are without three core pieces following their clash with Denver.
This includes Donte DiVincenzo, who is out for the season with a ruptured Achilles, Ayo Dosunmu and Minnesota's own superstar, Anthony Edwards.
Fortunately for Minnesota, Edwards and Dosunmu are expected to return during the series, with Dosunmu potentially able to be back in time for Game 1.
In the meantime, San Antonio has an advantage being back at full strength, especially getting the extra rest with their series wrapping up a game earlier. But just because they are injured, does not mean Minnesota will roll over.
The Spurs faced injury woes of their own this postseason, with Wembanyama taking close to two games off with a concussion. They promptly went 1-1 without their leader and looked more than capable in his absence.
So if any team can attest to the willpower of a postseason squad, it's San Antonio. Just look at Minnesota's valiant effort in Game 6.
With none of the three aforementioned injured Wolves, they found a hero in Jaden McDaniels, who dropped 32 points and 10 rebounds to put the series on ice.
Based on the regular season and what has been shown so far in the playoffs, these two teams share a plethora of similarities. It is shaping up to be a war to four wins and a spot in the Western Conference Finals when San Antonio and Minnesota meet up again in the Alamo City.