SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MAY 12: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs and Ayo Dosunmu #13 of the Minnesota Timberwolves react during the first quarter in Game Five of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Frost Bank Center on May 12, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE T O USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Spurs have outscored the Timberwolves by 67 total points this series. Do you think that if the Wembanyama ejection hadn’t happened, the series would be over? Marilyn Dubinski: It’s certainly possible.  It’s also possible it would be over if either Wemby or De’Aaron Fox showed up offensively in Game 1, but neither is a sure thing.  That being said, as long as this doesn’t stretch to Game 7 and/or fatigue doesn’t become a factor in the Western Conference Finals (*mandatory “assuming they get there” to avoid any jinxes), I’m actually not upset with this series going as it has (as long as it’s over tomorrow).  It has been quite the learning experience for the young Spurs, both mentally and physically, and while you can’t claim a defending champion who went to Game 7 in the Finals is not battle tested, you can tell the Thunder have been coasting through the first two rounds against possibly the easiest schedule ever (at least in the West), winning but not dominating.  Is it possible the Spurs will be the more-ready team thanks to this match-up? Time will tell. Mark Barrington: Probably, but I feel like if the Night of the Flying Elbow was a turning point, not just for the series, but for the future of the franchise, as they learned that playing superior basketball on the court wasn’t enough to make a serious run at a championship, but they also had to sharpen their mental and emotional skills to overcome teams already hardened in the pressure of playoff basketball. Every team at this level is talented, and teams will do anything to get even the smallest mental edge, and the Spurs found out how to deal with that and react the right way. Getting that experience was much more valuable than a routine win, which was the likely outcome if Wemby kept his cool. Wembanyama took his game to another level in Game 5, and we’ll see if that’s sustainable in Game 6 and in the Conference Championship round, if they advance. Devon Birdsong: It’s hard to say due to the degree of physicality that was being allowed in that game, and I think it would have been a very close game due to that, but I’m leaning toward a ‘no’ because I think the Wolves would have come out firing in Game 6, and (whether you were in favor of it or not) the attention that Wemby’s elbow and ejection brought to the officiating of the series might have continued unabated. Even before the series, I told myself it would be 6-7 games if Edwards was healthy enough to play well, and for the most part, he has been.  Jeje Gomez: It feels very likely. When nothing strange has happened after shaking off the cobwebs on Game 1, the Spurs have looked like the better team against a Timberwolves squad that can’t rely on Anthony Edwards as much as it normally would. But there’s nothing wrong with going to six or seven games with a veteran contender that has been to the Conference Finals twice in a row, and could have pulled off the win even with Wembanyama on the floor. Who or what has been the X Factor for either team so far, and do you expect it to be a major factor in Game 6? Dubinski: There are several X factors for the Wolves (Edwards’ knees, Julius “The Wild Card” Randle), but I’ll go with a more subtle one who isn’t there: Donte DiVincenzo. Without him, they have almost no outside shooting beyond Edwards, and that has been huge in allowing the Spurs to outscore them so badly in this series.  To that extent, three-point shooting could also be considered an X factor for the Spurs.  Interestingly, while neither team is shooting great, with both sitting at about 33% for the series, the Spurs – and especially Julian Champagnie – have been vastly superior in their wins vs. losses.  This series doesn’t necessarily hinge on three-point shooting, but it has certainly been a factor that has helped the Spurs. Barrington: The Timberwolves live or die by how well Anthony Edwards plays. He’s been slowed by injuries in this series, but he’s still been playing great, especially when Wembanyama is out of the game and he can drive without worrying about the big guy’s rim presence. Ant seemed oddly passive in Game 5, and if that passivity continues in Game 6, Minnesota’s season is over. To extend their playoffs, he has to have another 30+ point game and bring his teammates with him. Julius Randle isn’t having a good series, but he could bust out at any time. Hopefully it won’t be Saturday. Birdsong: The Spurs hitting their threes has been the difference between blowouts and close games/losses, but if we’re going with a player, I’d have to go with Keldon. Every time he’s had a good game (offensively or defensively) the Spurs have crushed it. If he’s off, things get a little tighter. The same is true of Harper, but he’s a little more consistent on the scoring end, and he pretty much runs the offense for the second unit even if he’s off. Getting 10+ points from Keldon in conjunction with solid defense usually gives the team separation. 15+ points, even if everyone else is having an average game, pretty much clinches it for them most of the time. He was a very deserving 6th man because against good teams he is very often the difference.  Gomez: Double-teaming and trapping Anthony Edwards is not necessarily a new strategy, as many have tried it in the past, but the Spurs have been using it well, and it has limited what the superstar guard and the Timberwolves’ offense can do. Not only has San Antonio made Ant have to play off the ball more than he’d preferred, but it has put pressure on others to make plays, and few have been able to answer the call. Whether the Wolves can find that secondary scorer to carry the offense for a while and whether the shooters connect on some of the open looks the strategy inevitably concedes could determine whether the series ends or goes to a Game 7. Do you think the Spurs will close it out in Minnesota in Game 6, or are we heading for a Game 7?  Dubinski: Without any drastic occurrences (another unexpected ejection, injury, someone besides Edwards going supernova, etc.), I think the Spurs know what it takes to beat this team and will close things out.  The scenario I foresee is the Wolves come out hot, giving it all they have early and take a decent but not insurmountable lead. Then, the Spurs inevitably regain their composure, be it in the second quarter or at halftime, surge back, and that’s that, since the Wolves have nothing left in the tank and no new wrinkles to throw out there.  Or it could be a wire-to-wire Spurs win.  Or it could be a loss and we’re back here on Sunday. Who knows with this series. Barrington: The Spurs will close it out in Game 6, unless Ant has a 50-piece and drags at least one teammate with him. I’m expecting a huge effort from Edwards in a close loss as Rudy Gobert gets played off the court due to his inability to get a hoop or even catch a pass, which frees up the paint for Wembanyama to punish the Wolves relentlessly. Julius Randle will contribute his usual dozen points or so, and Naz Reid will make an impact off the bench, but it won’t be enough as they go fishin’ before the weekend starts. Birdsong: Barring officiating shenanigans or a team-wide shooting drought, I think they know they have Minnesota’s number. They looked incredibly confident by the 4th quarter of the last game, to the point that they let up just a little for a minute or two. They’ll need to approach Minnesota like a wounded/cornered animal in Game 6, but as long as they do that, I think they have it. Talk to me again once I see the officiating assignments for Friday, though, because I’m not 100% sure that the shenanigans are over.  Gomez: I think the Spurs will be eager to close it out and should be able to, as long as they keep Edwards under control and no one else from the Wolves has a career game. As mentioned, they have looked like the better team in general. Wembanyama has dominated inside, the guards have provided scoring, and the perimeter defense has been tenacious. The Timberwolves are a tough opponent and no one would be shocked if they force a Game 7 and end up winning the series, but I think the most likely scenario is a Game 6 win for San Antonio. ...read more read less