San Antonio Spurs vs Minnesota Timberwolves Prediction: Pivotal Game 3 In Minneapolis
Updated July 9, 2026
The Western Conference semifinal series between the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs shifts to Minneapolis on Friday with the series tied 1-1. San Antonio answered in a major way during a 133-95 blowout victory in Game 2 after the Wolves upset them in the opener. The Spurs controlled the pace from the second quarter onward, forced 22 turnovers, and held Minnesota to its lowest-scoring first half of the season. Now the Timberwolves return home to a building where they have played far better during the postseason, and will try to use that to their advantage in Spurs vs Timberwolves Game 3.
San Antonio enters Game 3 with confidence after delivering one of its best all-around performances of the postseason in Game 2. Victor Wembanyama looked far more comfortable after a quiet Game 1, while the Spurs’ defense completely disrupted Minnesota’s offensive rhythm. No Timberwolves player scored more than 12 points in Game 2, a testament to how good the Spurs were on defense in that contest.
The Minnesota Timberwolves now need a major response at home. Anthony Edwards is still working through knee discomfort after suffering a hyperextension earlier in the playoffs, and his explosiveness has looked lacking at times. Minnesota also struggled badly against San Antonio’s length in the paint during Game 2, which raises concerns about how the Timberwolves can create efficient offense if Edwards is not fully healthy.
Minnesota Timberwolves
San Antonio Spurs
Game 3 should be far more competitive than Game 2, especially with Minnesota returning home. The Timberwolves should play with far more urgency, and Edwards is likely to be more aggressive offensively after a disappointing outing. The actual winner of this game could be either team, in my opinion, but I think that the Wolves will cover the spread as an underdog of more than one possession no matter who comes out on top in the end.
Affiliate DisclosureATS.io uses affiliate links. If you sign up through a link on this page, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Rankings are based on hands-on testing and published criteria, and affiliate relationships do not determine placement.
