San Antonio vs. Minnesota, Final Score: Spurs’ defense strangles Timberwolves, 133-95

The San Antonio Spurs had their backs to the wall, so they had a Game 7 mentality from tip-off, and they cruised their way to the finish line against the ravenous Minnesota Timberwolves. The Spurs are now going on tour and the winner of a Game 3 in a best of seven series when it’s tied advances 73.7 percent of the time, per the NBA’s Facts and Figures. 

Both sides were implacable, defending the lane like it was a scared temple and neither had much breathing room until the levy broke for the Spurs in transition. San Antonio’s defense was more potent, holding them to their lowest output of the season (35 points) in the first half, which included a stretch where it forced Minnesota into a stream of bad shots.

Usually, even playoff games with a large difference get close, but the Spurs didn’t permit such  shenanigans because Victor Wembanyama’s help defense was omnipresent, despite 10 less blocks, and his teammates were just as unforgiving, hounding the ball before it crossed half court and controlling the boards.

Observations

• These types of butt-kickings usually come with a warning for children. This one got so of hand, that even Kelly Olynyk and Lindy Waters III got dusted off, and they’ve barely played since ‘Nam.
• The first half of the third quarter was the sloppiest spurt for the Spurs as they did a poor job of defending without fouling. Still, it didn’t hurt them as much as it could have because the Timberwolves were having the same problems putting them on the line, and Julian Champagnie swished four 3-pointers. 
• Stephon Castle, who fouled out in Game 1, may have picked up some unnecessary penalties and turnovers, but he played with more controlled aggression. All six of his shots were logged in the lane, and he was immaculate at the line on nine attempts. Additionally, as shown against Deni Avdija and Bones Hyland in this game, he plays with a fearlessness that the team feeds off.
• Guarding Julius Randle and Naz Reid, two tanks, has been problematic at times because one of them usually joins the other or Rudy Gobert while the Spurs mostly use four perimeter players around Wemby. Most players matched up with them are at a disadvantage since Randle and Reid have the edge on the boards and in reach to disrupt shots. Yet, Keldon Johnson was able to hold up well in his minutes with Randle, and the Spurs were able to neutralize their impact by sending help quicker at them. 

• Jaden McDaniels is slimmer, but he is the new age Bobby Jones, who was famously a stud athlete and top-notch defender for the Philadelphia 76ers in the ‘80s. He gave ball handlers fits and zig-zagged to his spots, but his impact was offset by the grip the Spurs took on the game, and he picked up five fouls.
• Even without eye-pooping stats, De’Aaron Fox was a key figure in the first-half avalanche because he was playing with more intensity, and the team did a nice job of screening for him on curls.  This matchup is a difficult one for him because of the length and lateral quickness Minnesota has, so he could be used more as a decoy as the series progresses.
• Carter Bryant gave the team good minutes with his hustle in transition and backpedaling. Since he’s got a bigger frame, there may come a time in this series where it’s best for the Spurs to use him over Julian Champagnie, a leaner player.