Highlights
Preview
MINNEAPOLIS (Interstat) — The San Antonio Spurs, owners of the NBA’s best regular-season record, aim to seize a commanding 3-1 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday at Target Center. Game 4 tips off at 7 p.m. CST with the Spurs holding a 2-1 advantage after a historic 133-95 rout Wednesday in San Antonio. The top-seeded Spurs (67-23) have won two of three meetings in the series, splitting the two games in Minnesota earlier this season. San Antonio’s 7-foot-4 forward Victor Wembanyama has been a dominant force. In the Game 3 victory, Wembanyama posted 19 points, 15 rebounds and two blocks in just 26 minutes. He logged a remarkable 12 blocks in the series opener on May 4, a 104-102 Minnesota win, finishing with 11 points and 15 rebounds. Across his past six playoff appearances, Wembanyama averages 19.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. The Timberwolves (54-36), seeded fourth, are looking to bounce back from their 38-point defeat. Forward Julius Randle, Minnesota’s leading scorer in the postseason, managed 12 points and five rebounds in Game 3 after recording 21 points and 10 rebounds in Game 2. Randle has averaged 18.3 points and 7.9 rebounds over his last seven playoff games. The series has been defined by dramatic swings. San Antonio lost a narrow 104-102 decision on May 4, then responded with a 38-point blowout two nights later. The Spurs won 126-123 in Minnesota on Jan. 17, while the Timberwolves claimed a 104-103 victory at Target Center on Jan. 11. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 117-108 victory for the Timberwolves on Sunday. San Antonio’s supporting cast has stepped up. Guard Stephon Castle scored 21 points in 24 minutes in Game 3, while forward Julian Champagnie added 12 points. For Minnesota, center Naz Reid provided 11 points and seven rebounds, and forward Jaden McDaniels contributed 12 points and four assists. The winner of this series will face either the Denver Nuggets or Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference finals. If necessary, Game 5 is Tuesday in San Antonio, Game 6 on May 15 in Minnesota and Game 7 on May 17 in San Antonio.

