The Minnesota Timberwolves get their turn to host the San Antonio Spurs for Game 3 of their second-round series in the 2026 NBA Playoffs. The Timberwolves won Game 1 by a score of 104-102. The Spurs were able to even the series with a dominant 133-95 win in Game 2 and now they head to Minnesota tonight for the first of two away games.
San Antonio’s defensive core is one of the best in the league. The roster is filled with young players capable of impacting both ends of the floor with ease. Their mindset entering the series was to exploit Minnesota’s offense and dominate the glass. In Game 1, they tried, but nothing went in their favor, particularly in the fourth quarter. However, Game 2 flipped the script, with as many as seven Spurs players finishing in double figures.
Stephon Castle led the team in scoring with 21 points, while Victor Wembanyama recorded a double-double with 19 points and 15 rebounds. De’Aaron Fox scored 16 points, Julian Champagnie added 12 points and Devin Vassell chipped in 10. Harrison Barnes and Dylan Harper also provided a spark off the bench with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
The Timberwolves were thoroughly outplayed and were almost no threat offensively outside of the first quarter, when the score was 28-22. The speed of Victor Wembanyama and company was just too much for the Timberwolves to handle as the lead ballooned to 59-35 by halftime. San Antonio Spurs generated plenty of good looks while Minnesota played lackluster defense and committed 22 turnovers.
None of the Timberwolves players touched the 20-point mark. Four players led the team in scoring, with Julius Randle, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Terrence Shannon Jr. all scoring 12 points each, while Naz Reid chipped in with 11 points.
The Timberwolves have all the talent in the world to turn things around at home, but some of these issues need to be addressed. They will need to be ready to bring it for the Target Center faithful on Thursday.
San Antonio Spurs vs Minnesota Timberwolves Injury Report in Game 3
San Antonio Spurs Injury Report
The Spurs enter Game 3 with a fully healthy roster. There are no fresh injury concerns for them, and they will be able to use their full rotation as well.
Minnesota Timberwolves Injury Report
As for the Timberwolves, Ayo Dosunmu, who played in Game 2 after returning from a calf injury, is now listed as questionable with heel soreness. Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards, who is dealing with a left knee bone bruise is also a gametime decision. Edwards played the first games of the series.
San Antonio Spurs vs Minnesota Timberwolves Starting Lineups and Depth Charts in Game 3
San Antonio Spurs starting lineup and depth chart
All the Spurs starters had a solid game in Game 2, and they are going to need that once again tonight in Minnesota. They are most likely to field the usual starting unit of De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie and Victor Wembanyama.
| PG | De’Aaron Fox | Dylan Harper | |
| SG | Stephon Castle | Keldon Johnson | Lindy Waters III |
| SF | Devin Vassell | Carter Bryant | |
| PF | Julian Champagnie | Harrison Barnes | Kelly Olynyk |
| C | Victor Wembanyama | Luke Kornet | Mason Plumlee |
Minnesota Timberwolves starting lineups and depth chart
As for the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Anthony Edwards still being listed as questionable, he is likely to come off the bench, paving the way for Terrence Shannon Jr. to start alongside Mike Conley, Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert.
| PG | Mike Conley | Bones Hyland | Zyon Pullin |
| SG | Terrence Shannon Jr. | Anthony Edwards* | Jaylen Clark |
| SF | Jaden McDaniels | Ayo Dosunmu* | Rocco Zikarsky |
| PF | Julius Randle | Kyle Anderson | Joe Ingles |
| C | Rudy Gobert | Naz Reid | Joan Beringer |
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