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

[Arguendo]

While the refs can be trash, Steph reached in unnecessarily while Wemby was standing right there!!!! Frustrating play.

Agree, Steph keeps doing that and needs to clean it up and needs to learn he won't get the RS calls in the paint he's used to.
But I was referring to his 5th foul, where his back was to Randle. That was not a foul, then they immediately called Jaden for his cheap 5th which felt like a makeup call.

 

[tearsofmorningdew]

Where did you think this team would be before the season?

Doesn’t matter accepting anything less than a ring with this squad is cope. Yeah sure expectations were exceeded but it’s ring or bust from here on out

 

[LeBowen]

Where did you think this team would be before the season?

Why would that matter?
It's a 62 win team playing against an opponent with serious injury issues, not winning the series would be a huge disappointment.

 

[amans]

Of course he's a problem, I'm not saying he's not, I'm just saying he's not enough of a problem for us to warrant a roster move or whatever.


Don't you think that has something to do with Gobert being benched? I don't think Champ gets those two offensive rebounds if we hadn't run Gobert off the floor.

You think Gobert has never played 29mpg or less in 2 months? Lol. No I don’t think it has to do with us running him off the floor

 

[WembyFan]

This is just a bad matchup for the Spurs, not to be a Debbie downer but the Wolves have the advantage and especially now that they've taken home court advantage.

 

[tearsofmorningdew]

Thanks for the info.

I've been rooting for the team but a little detached since I work at night.

Has Harrison just looked bad post all-star break or all season long? We really needed him to remain serviceable at least until the end of this season.

To be fair, we also weren't thinking we we title contenders in August and September either. The expectations have gone way up and he's been a disappointment.

Bad all calendar year. He’s old and cooked but is by all accounts an intelligent and thoughtful guy/good leader which keeps him employed. Nothing to do with his on the court performance lol

 

[Hyrup]

I think the Spurs adjust/show a little more focus and win by 10+ game 2, then take at least 1 in Minny (possibly both, which I know sounds a little hopeful after tonight).

 

[timtonymanu]

Doesn’t matter accepting anything less than a ring with this squad is cope. Yeah sure expectations were exceeded but it’s ring or bust from here on out

Kinda hard for me to call this ring or bust when our best PG has to play off the bench. I honestly don't think we will be peak until next season at the earliest.

 

[MannyIG]

Criticism is different than throwing your hands up and ceding the series after one game of a 7 game series.. Plenty of fair criticism to go around, it's just funny to me that Spurs fans who have been through so many long playoff runs and so many losses on the way to championships are ready to give up after a game 1 loss, as though they remember 2005 for example being a 16-0 run.

I don't remember who it was (nor do I care) but I definitely remember several posters were ready to call the first series 4 to 1 blazers after game 2. Probably some of those same guys are in here declaring a series win for Minnesota. Which is their right to do. Because none of this matters.

Anything can happen, but I think we definitely saw a wide enough gap in execution versus potential in this game to expect any return to the mean would benefit San Antonio. So I'm not worried overall. And if we lose to a WC finalist from the past two years in our first year of contention, I'm pretty Zen about that as well.

I don't disagree that I pretty much think the Spurs are playing with house money right now, but also I think because so many of the issues in the game tonight are obvious and fixable I would be pretty disappointed if they lose to this Wolves team with Ant on one leg. I think they're going to win the series because they SHOULD win the series, and it almsot seems like it will take a self own (like tonight) in order to stop that from happening and that will be tough to swallow. I KNOW that this team likely needs to learn and grow, but I'm really hoping the coaching staff is who I think they are vs who many here fear they are. We'll see!

 

[onechance87]

Doesn’t matter accepting anything less than a ring with this squad is cope. Yeah sure expectations were exceeded but it’s ring or bust from here on out

Agreed...All the spurs players have been in this mindset for last few months now.

 

[Wemby_Island]

Spurs will come out with the proper energy and get it done. We will see if Minnesota comes in somewhat satisfied

I dont think they comes satisfied, TBH

They will up their energy. TBH our O sucks entire season against bigger defenders and Mitch dont have an answer.

We play too much ISO ball and dont move the ball well at all. We dont involve our sharp shooters well in the game.

Fox and castle are not natural passers and Mitch still dont put ball much in Harpers hands.

 

[NotRobDiaz21]

Spurs either win game 2 comfortably or lose a close one tbh.

I think we either win a close one or get blown the fuck out tbh

 

[tearsofmorningdew]

Kinda hard for me to call this ring or bust when our best PG has to play off the bench. I honestly don't think we will be peak until next season at the earliest.

It’s not like it’s ability that’s yet to have matured/cracked, it’s coaching malpractice that’s holding us back. it’s vomit-inducing. if we don’t win at least the western conference with this squad it won’t be because of ability. The ingredients are there

 

[Wemby_Island]

Seen all 6 games of MIN.

They fucking won against DEN with out their top 3 guys out of 6. Their game plan is just unreal.

 

[Spurminator]

Why would that matter?
It's a 62 win team playing against an opponent with serious injury issues, not winning the series would be a huge disappointment.

It absolutely matters, because someone deserves credit for this team winning 62 games and it's very convenient for fans to recalibrate their expectations based on past results.

 

[LeBowen]

I've got no problems with losing against OKC or NY because both teams are healthy.
I can't accept losing to a team missing their 5th and 6th rotation member and their franchise player playing with two bad knees.

 

[Dbreiden83080]

Why would that matter?
It's a 62 win team playing against an opponent with serious injury issues, not winning the series would be a huge disappointment.

It would be a huge disappointment, but we are getting the much-needed playoff experience here.

To me losing in the opening round would’ve been the disaster because that’s all terrible playoff experience to get humiliated like that. I still think we win this series though. Wednesday is a gut check.

 

[Mogging]

I would trade fox for a really good PF. That’s what they’re missing

 

[Ice009]

I dont necessarily disagree with you tbh, it’s 50-50.

And it’s why I quote unquoted the hot hand as it wasnt really from jumpers.

If it was from hitting a couple of shots beforehand, I would have been much more in favour of him taking a shot like that, but it wasn't . I feel bad for him because he hustled his ass off to get us the chance to win it.

Definitely. Harper looked at the bench expecting the timeout and Wemby wasn’t even running till he knew there’s no timeout. Mitch should have made it known to his players they can go without a timeout cuz they were clearly confused

Yep. That is what it felt like to me. I wasn't watching as closely as you did, but I think multiple players were expecting a timeout and it cost them a second or two. Not the time you want to be indecisive.

Agreed...All the spurs players have been in this mindset for last few months now.

That's my mindset. It's a loser mindset to accept anything else. That's not how you win. The players should be thinking the same thing too and I believe they have for the past 2-3 months.

 

[tearsofmorningdew]

I would trade fox for a really good PF. That’s what they’re missing

Won’t happen unless you mean dump Fox and move assets (including one or more FRP) and then get a good PF

 

[Dbreiden83080]

I dont think they comes satisfied, TBH

They will up their energy. TBH our O sucks entire season against bigger defenders and Mitch dont have an answer.

We play too much ISO ball and dont move the ball well at all. We dont involve our sharp shooters well in the game.

Fox and castle are not natural passers and Mitch still dont put ball much in Harpers hands.

We will see? Very often in the playoffs when you get that unexpected road win in the opening game, you are a little bit satisfied the next game.

 

[John B]

I think he was talking about playing frantically on O. He said that energy didn't help his team, like he realized he was out of control on O. I think the D performance got him so hyped he couldn't control his O. Zen on D, chaos on O. At least that's how I understand him.

As mentioned 2nd round jitters for our young guys. They’ll bounce back and trounce T-Pups big time in Game 2. I expect Wemby to score 45 pts!!!

 

[Ice009]

I don't know, is it time to be bold. It might be time to give D-Harper the reigns right now.

Edit: I just don't like Castle or Fox bringing the ball up against this team and trying to initiate the offense. I don't think either of them are truly great playmakers and the defensive pressure from Minnesota is slowing them up. Fox, supposed to be a great scorer, but we're not seeing that. Steph, as people has said before it better as a secondary playmaker IMO.

 

[WembyFan]

Well the Wolves haven't won shit so they might lack that killer instinct that championship teams have so it's possible they give us game 2 because they're satisfied.

 

[MannyIG]

Vegas has us as -9.5 favorites for game 2. Could see it drop to -5.5 by tip off but let’s see. Gsme 2 will feel like a game 7.

Part of me would be surprised if it drops because its basically a must win game for the Spurs now. But on the other hand -9.5 seems high. Yeah IDK, I definitely don't see it droping to -5.5 as that implies way more people are betting on the Wolves and that would surprise me.