Victor Wembanyama continues to etch his name into the NBA record books during his first postseason campaign. The San Antonio Spurs star delivered a historic performance in Game 3 of the Western Conference semi-finals, tallying 39 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks in a 115-108 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night. The win gives the Spurs a 2-1 lead in the series.
Wembanyama, the 22-year-old French sensation, joined an elite group of Hall of Famers—Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Shaquille O'Neal—as the only players in NBA history to reach 35 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks in a playoff game. Remarkably, Wembanyama is the first to achieve this feat while shooting over 70% from the field, going 13-for-18 and 10-for-12 from the free-throw line.
Despite his graceful play, the 7-foot-4 phenom showed the physical toll of battling in the paint, sporting fresh cuts and bruises on his long arms after jockeying for position all night. When asked about the Timberwolves' physicality, Wembanyama quipped, "It's going to happen. They're Wolves, after all."
The Spurs remained unbeaten on the road this postseason, securing their first close victory after four blowout wins over the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round. Coach Mitch Johnson praised his team's growth, saying, "They just continue showing growth."
Wembanyama credited Olajuwon for teaching him a spin fadeaway that he used against his mentor Rudy Gobert during a 16-point fourth quarter. He set an NBA postseason record with 12 blocked shots in the series opener but lamented his lack of offensive impact in that loss. He responded emphatically in Game 2 with a dominant two-way performance, and the momentum carried into Game 3.
Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu acknowledged Wembanyama's defensive prowess: "He's a world-class defender. You're always aware of him. Yeah, he's a gift at that end of the court."
De'Aaron Fox contributed 17 points for the Spurs, while Stephon Castle added 13 points and 12 assists with a team-high plus-17 rating. For the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards scored 32 points with 14 rebounds, and Naz Reid chipped in 18 points and nine rebounds. Game 4 is set for Sunday night in Minnesota, with Game 5 scheduled for Tuesday in San Antonio.
Knicks Take 3-0 Lead Over 76ers
In the Eastern Conference semi-finals, Jalen Brunson scored 33 points to lead the New York Knicks to a 108-94 victory over the host Philadelphia 76ers, giving New York a commanding 3-0 series lead. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.
Brunson delivered clutch baskets down the stretch, delighting the roaring Knicks fans. Josh Hart recorded 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Mikal Bridges added 23 points as the Knicks moved within one win of their second straight conference finals appearance under first-year coach Mike Brown.
New York played without forward OG Anunoby, who is averaging 21.4 points per game in the postseason and sat out with a strained right hamstring. He remains day to day. Joel Embiid returned for the Sixers after missing Game 2 with a sprained right ankle and sore right hip, scoring 18 points.
