San Antonio Spurs Versus Minnesota Timberwolves: NBA Playoff Second Round Series Preview

Jacob Perrine
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) raises his arms and acknowledges the fans before leaving during the second half of game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers.

The first round of the NBA playoffs officially came to an end on Sunday, with now just 8 teams still alive for the coveted Larry O’Brien trophy. One of the more intriguing second-round matchups is set to tip off later tonight between the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs. Let’s examine the path to victory for both teams in the series, as well as predict who will win and advance to the Western Conference Finals.

Timberwolves Depth to be Tested Against a Deep Spurs Team

While the Timberwolves’ exceptional depth was one of the main reasons for their first-round series win over the Denver Nuggets, that strength could be neutralized against a deep Spurs squad this round. The good news for the Timberwolves is that superstar guard Anthony Edwards is expected to return for game one tonight, which will certainly help replenish Minnesota’s ranks.

For the Spurs, no major injuries have forced them to shore up their own bench, which has been the biggest strength all season. Of course, the main reason for that has been the excellent play of this season’s Sixth Man of the Year, Keldon Johnson, who leads the way for the second unit. The Spurs bench finished first in the league for net rating during the regular season.

Although Johnson is the most notable name coming off the bench for San Antonio, the much-improved play of other bench players, such as Dylan Harper, has also been a positive development for the Spurs. Harper was magnificent in the Spurs’ first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers, as he averaged 13 points per game on 56% shooting from the field, including a 27-point and 10-rebound masterclass in game 4 to put the Spurs up 2-1 in that series. If the Spurs are to get back to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2017, the bench must thoroughly outplay the Timberwolves second unit.

Defense, Defense, and Even More Defense

Apr 23, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) talks with guard Ayo Dosunmu (13) during a free throw by the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) talks with guard Ayo Dosunmu (13) during a free throw by the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

If you’re expecting any sort of offensive fireworks coming into this series, then prepare to be disappointed, as both teams’ philosophies and rosters are built squarely around the defensive end of the floor. Although both teams have capable offenses, with the Spurs and Timberwolves ranked within the top 10 on offense during the regular season, this series will, in all likelihood, come down to which defense dominates the most.

The biggest matchup in this area of the game will be between Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert, who are both coming off dominant defensive performances in their respective first-round series. Gobert was the catalyst for stopping a historic Nuggets offense, while Wembanyama showed why he was the first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year winner by averaging 4 blocks per game against Portland. If either one of these players can maintain their brilliant play on the defensive end, the series will heavily swing in their respective team’s favor.

Outside of those two players, each team possesses a similar defensive build as it pertains to their rosters. Minnesota possesses an impressive amount of length out on the wings in players like Jaden McDaniels, Anthony Edwards, and Jaylen Clark. That length presented numerous problems for the Nuggets in the first round, and effectively neutralized Denver’s star backcourt of Jamal Murray and Christian Braun.

For the Spurs, while they don’t have the same level of length out on the wings, they make up for it with a ball-hawking backcourt in De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle. The latter of that duo in Castle has quickly emerged as one of the league’s best two-way players, as he’s currently projected to make an All-Defensive team this season. While both teams present different defensive challenges for one another, they are more evenly matched than the numbers on paper suggest.

Series Prediction: Spurs Win in 6 Games

In a tightly contested and potentially low-scoring series between these two teams, the Spurs simply possess too much for the short-handed Timberwolves to overcome in this round. While the Timberwolves were able to find a way to win in spite of their injury issues in their first-round victory, the massive difference in defensive personnel and overall pressure the Spurs present compared to the Nuggets will be the ultimate deciding factor, especially given how close that Nuggets series was. The Spurs clinch the series in a tough 6 games and head back to the Western Conference Finals.

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