Well, that’s more like it. After a rare, series-opening home loss, the San Antonio Spurs responded with a vengeance on Wednesday, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves, 133-95 to even their Western Conference semifinal, 1-1.

The series moves to Minneapolis, starting with Game 3 on Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET.

The Spurs blew open Game 2 in the second quarter, outscoring the T-Wolves, 35-18, to take a 24-point lead at the half. The 38-point defeat is the worst postseason loss in Minnesota’s history.

Victor Wembanyama had 19 points and 15 rebounds, and Stephon Castle scored a game-high 21 points to lead the Spurs.

The depleted Timberwolves got 12 points from four different players, including Anthony Edwards, who again came off the bench with limited minutes.

Spurs vs. Timberwolves NBA Betting Odds

Although they were soundly outplayed, and even with multiple players’ Game 3 statuses in doubt, the Timberwolves are only 3-point underdogs at home on the NBA odds. They are +145 on the moneyline, while the Spurs are -170.

The over/under is set at 216, a total easily surpassed thanks to the Spurs in Game 2. The teams have played to the over in three of five meetings this season, and five of their last seven overall.

San Antonio Spurs

San Antonio gave the kind of response that says its Game 1 loss may have just been an aberration. The Spurs took advantage of Edwards’ absence on the court and poor shooting, and never let the Timberwolves come up for air. That’s what you do to a wounded opponent in the playoffs. You bury them early and don’t let them hang around.

The Spurs shot 41 per cent (16-for-39) from three-point range and seven different players scored in double figures, including Dylan Harper, who had 11 points, seven rebounds, and a game-high five assists off the bench.

Keldon Johnson also had nine points and 10 rebounds off the bench as San Antonio showed no letup even when it gave its starters a break before sitting them for the rest of the game with 10 minutes left. 

Wembanyama’s status is always tricky, and an injury is always lurking around the corner for the big man, but San Antonio is humming, heading to Minneapolis.

Minnesota Timberwolves

For Minnesota, it’s simple. If Edwards cannot play more minutes and shake his hyperextended left knee, and if Ayo Dosunmu, who returned in Game 2 after missing two games, cannot replicate his production from the last series, the Timberwolves are cooked.

After grinding out 18 points in Game 1’s upset, Edwards shot just 38.5 per cent from the field (5-for-13) to finish with 12 points. Dosunmu, who averaged a team-high 21.8 points against the Nuggets in the quarterfinals, went 0-for-4 from the field in just 10 minutes on Wednesday.

It didn’t help that the team made just 16 of 31 free-throw attempts either.  

Rudy Gobert, who grabbed 10 rebounds but scored just five points, needs to do more inside against Wembanyama as well. 

This series could get away from Minnesota quickly if it does not make a statement at home Friday night.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Spurs vs. Timberwolves Game 3?

This does not feel like a game-to-game series that sees momentum swing back and forth and features big plays by superstars. Somebody told the Spurs after Game 1 to attack a depleted Minnesota squad from the start, and that’s exactly what they did.

Now, with the Timberwolves on their heels, that’s exactly what we expect to happen again Friday night. Look for San Antonio to regain home court superiority with a 120-105 victory.

SPURS

Away

120

TIMBERWOLVES

Home

105

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Predictions

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