Game Preview #25 – Timberwolves at Spurs

The Wolves look to keep their December momentum rolling as the travel down south to take on the Spurs. Minnesota’s bigs will have their hands full with Victor Wembanyama, but Anthony Edwards has the potential to be the star of the game.

Minnesota Timberwolves at San Antonio Spurs
Date: December 15th, 2024
Time: 6:00 PM CST
Location: Frost Bank Center
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio Coverage: Wolves App/iHeart Radio

The Timberwolves Take Their Momentum Deep in the Heart of Texas

Well, it’s been a whirlwind few weeks, hasn’t it? The Minnesota Timberwolves went from being the “Timberlost” to something that actually resembles the Timberwolves we all dreamed of in October. Five wins in their last six games, all against tough Western Conference opponents, has this team finally climbing out of the early-season mud. But there’s no time to get complacent because the next stop on Minnesota’s schedule is against the San Antonio Spurs.

Yes, the Spurs. You remember them, right? They’re the team that smacked Minnesota in the mouth a month ago after the Wolves stumbled off a late-night flight following a home victory over Denver. The final score said the Wolves only lost by 10, but anyone who watched that game knows it wasn’t remotely that close. Victor Wembanyama looked every bit like the French Phenom we’ve been told he is, and the Wolves… well, they looked like a team that forgot to set their alarm clock. Sunday is the chance to rewrite that script.

A Critical Game in the Tight West Race

This isn’t just another early-season matchup. It’s a sneakily important game for Western Conference standings. The Spurs sit just a half-game behind the Wolves, boasting a respectable 13-12 record, while Minnesota is 13-11 and perched precariously in the seventh seed. A win could solidify their spot and inch them closer to the top six—a critical threshold in avoiding the dreaded play-in tournament. A loss, though? Back to the bubble, and nobody wants to hang out there.

If you’re the Wolves, this is one of those games you circle in red ink on the schedule. Yes, San Antonio’s been stuck in the doldrums the last few seasons, but don’t sleep on them now. With Victor Wembanyama emerging as one of the league’s most exciting players and Chris Paul directing traffic at point guard, the Spurs have gone from a fun young team to legitimate threats. This is not a game for the Wolves to roll in with overconfidence.

The Blueprint for Beating the Spurs

Let’s start with the obvious: stop Victor Wembanyama. Easier said than done, right? At 7-foot-3 with Inspector Gadget arms and a silky jumper, the kid is a matchup nightmare. He dropped 17 on Minnesota last time without breaking a sweat, and if the Wolves let him get comfortable again, things could get ugly fast.

Luckily, Minnesota has the tools to slow him down. Between Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid, the Wolves have a three-headed big-man rotation that can throw waves of bodies at Wemby. Gobert, in particular, has looked rejuvenated on defense during this recent stretch, swatting shots and anchoring the paint like it’s Utah circa 2019. If they can make life difficult for Wemby and force the rest of the Spurs roster to beat them, the Wolves should be in good shape.

But defense alone won’t get it done. The Wolves need to replicate the things that have fueled their recent success:

• Aggressive defense: Active hands, smart rotations, and hustle plays have been the difference between the flat Wolves of November and the energized squad we’ve seen in December. They need to keep that up to stifle San Antonio’s perimeter shooting and force turnovers.
• Ball movement: This is where Chris Finch earns his paycheck. When the Wolves move the ball and create open looks, they’re a completely different team. No one wants to see a Julius Randle isolation festival or Ant dribbling into double teams. Let the offense flow, find the open man, and trust the shooters.
• Knocking down threes: Speaking of shooters, Donte DiVincenzo, Jaden McDaniels, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker need to stay hot. The Wolves were ice-cold from deep in November, but the switch seems to have flipped recently. If the shots keep falling, San Antonio won’t have the firepower to keep up.

Ant vs. Wemby: A Statement Game

Let’s be honest—this is more than just a game in the standings. It’s a battle for NBA clout. Victor Wembanyama is the league’s shiny new toy, hyped as the next face of basketball. Anthony Edwards, meanwhile, has already declared himself the guy for this Wolves team and one of the future faces of the league. This matchup is as much about bragging rights as it is about basketball.

Ant was quiet in the Wolves’ 97-87 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, which, to be fair, was partly because the Wolves didn’t need him to be Superman. That won’t fly on Sunday. Edwards needs to outshine Wemby, and not just because he’s capable of it—it’s a game the Wolves need him to dominate. He’s the leader of this squad, and in moments like this, great players step up.

Why This Game Matters

Some might look at Sunday’s matchup and see an opportunity to rest on their laurels after a strong stretch. Don’t do that. Missing the NBA Cup might have given the Wolves a softer schedule this week, but those “bonus” games against the Lakers and Spurs only mean something if they win them. Dropping this game would undo the goodwill from a strong start to December and leave the Wolves stuck in the Western Conference’s middle class.

The schedule doesn’t get any easier from here. Minnesota has a gauntlet of tough opponents waiting after this Texas pit stop. Banking wins now against teams they should beat is the difference between heading into the New Year as a solid playoff team or sweating it out as a play-in bubble squad.

Prediction: Wolves Keep Rolling

The Wolves should have the edge here. They’re finally finding their groove, the defense is locked in, and the offense is starting to hum. San Antonio has talent, but they lack the depth and experience to hang with Minnesota if the Wolves play their game. I’m expecting Ant to rise to the occasion, Gobert to keep Wemby in check, and the Wolves to notch their sixth win in seven games.

Final Score: Wolves 114, Spurs 103.

The arrow is pointing up for Minnesota, but the job’s not done. Let’s see if they can keep it rolling and head into the holiday stretch as the team we all knew they could be.