Game Thread Playoffs Round 2, Game 1: Spurs vs Timberwolves (0-0) (Mon 05/04/2026) [8:30 CDT]

[spursistan]

If the Spurs lose game two they're getting swept imo.

This team has heart not like the soft ass Nuggets. It's gonna come down to our offense making just enough shots because the defense has been constant throughout playoffs and it's most certainly two tiers above what the Wolves have seen in the first round. It's looking like a long slugfest series either way.

 

[BigTimeBum]

I'm closing in on hopping on the "trade Fox for frontcourt help" bandwagon

Come on, Fox ...

 

[Ice009]

Spurs in 6 requires 4 wins from the next 5 games, won't say impossible but highly doubt that against this strong and veteran Wolves team. Before the series I had Spurs in 5/6 depending on Edwards early availability but nobody imagined he'd be back in Game 1. I'm gonna say Spurs in 7, Game 2 win is a must.
I'm confident we will find the necessary adjustments to make on offense and defense, I think Gobert will be played off the court because Minnesota will want to stretch the floor and keep Wemby away from the paint and they can't do that with Gobert on the floor, and the Spurs will find the necessary moves to defend this adjustment. Wemby probably will need to be on Shannon/McDaniels and let them shoot away. Meanwhile Minnesota's interior defense should take a big hit if Gobert can't play big minutes and the Spurs will have to take advantage of that with Wemby, Castle, Fox, Harper making plays to the hoop to get easy buckets.

I actually thought there was a chance he'd be back in game 1 or 2, and that the Wolves were bullshitting the timeline. If he was out for the series or not likely to return anytime soon, I doubt they would have played with the same energy they did against Denver in game 6. They would have been more dejected IMO. I think they had an idea he might be back sooner, so that gave them an energy boost to win game 6 against Denver IMO.

Anyway, the Spurs will have to win one road game in Minnesota. The Nuggets didn't really come close to winning games 3 and 4 and then they still lost against a severely shorthanded Wolves team in game 6. Spurs have to win all their home games and win one of these next two in Minnesota. I don't want to go down 3-1 like Denver did. Spurs really needed to win game 1 to put them on the back foot. Freaking giving them game 1 is not the way to start the series against a team like this. Edwards could also get healthier as the series goes on. Spurs could get lucky and his knee gets worse and he has to sit a game or two, but I don't want to win that way anyway, so I hope that doesn't happen.

 

[Ice009]

It's why Pop was garbage the second Duncan retired.

Darn. He went in on the coaches and coaching.
"Popafuck's pupil, just as much a dumbass as Gregg."

 

[SouthernFried]

We need to find Wemby inside like we were against Portland. Castle Fox Harper need to find ways to get Wemby going under the rim for easy buckets and alleyoops. He shouldn’t have to run from the 3 pt line and dunk to get his buckets. It’s on Wemby also to be aggressive in the paint and call for the ball and stop shooting weak 3s when his shot isn’t falling. He needs to make good runs and free himself or his teammates

This is what a good coach would do. This is why you hire good coaches. Mitch has never shown that he is even a mediocre coach to me. Basically, from what I have seen...he's not a coach at all.

 

[spursistan]

It's why Pop was garbage the second Duncan retired.

Keldon is a playoffs pumpkin, change my mind lebowen! He is, like Draymond says, an 82-game player and not a 16-game player.

 

[spursparker9]

It's why Pop was garbage the second Duncan retired.

the comments: This video would be on the Tpups if Champ hit that 3

 

[Rocalcio]

Yeah I think you may be right about a bunch of newbie bandwagoners who don't understand the NBA playoff roller coaster, maybe French fans?

I welcome them all of course.

Many French fans were already supporting the Spurs during Tony's presence here, as far as I'm concerned I started when DRob was drafted.

 

[amans]

I’m conflicted all around because:

1. I like a timeout. A good team takes a time out
2. I feel like we win in OT, I take a well drawn up play for 2
3. We are so young and honestly looked lost when we got the board
4. We are also a terrible out of timeout team. We never have a well drawn up play that’s also well executed
5. We actually ended up with a descent look anyway
6. Julz earned that shot
7. Nobody else was making shots anyway so high chance whoever gets the drawn up play misses

All these things are true tbh. I’m ok with the outcome and julz getting the shot for it

Going to OT without Castle, but with Mcdaniels and Randle on 5 fouls... I like my chances. I also would have preferred a 2 with a timeout maybe you get Wemby under the rim or a close shot nobody can block.