The Minnesota Timberwolves face the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the NBA playoffs tonight on Peacock and NBCSN. The Timberwolves advanced despite injuries, while the Spurs won their first playoff series since 2017.
Key points
Timberwolves face Spurs in NBA playoff Game 1
Game airs on Peacock and NBCSN
Timberwolves advanced despite injuries to key players
Spurs won their first playoff series since 2017
Wembanyama returned after a concussion in the previous series
The sixth-seeded Timberwolves advanced past the Denver Nuggets despite the loss of starting backcourt Anthony Edwards (hyperextended left knee) and Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles), beating the No. 3 seed for the second consecutive season.
The second-seeded Spurs ousted the Portland Trailblazers 4-1 in San Antonio's first playoff series since 2019 (and first series win since 2017). The lone defeat came in Game 2 when star Victor Wembanyama suffered a concussion (he would miss a game before returning). All four of the Spurs' wins were by double digits, including comebacks of more than 15 points in Games 3 and 4.
Q&A
What time does the Timberwolves vs Spurs Game 1 start?
Game 1 between the Timberwolves and Spurs starts tonight at 8:00 PM ET.
How can I watch the Timberwolves vs Spurs playoff game?
You can watch the Timberwolves vs Spurs playoff game on Peacock and NBCSN.
What were the Timberwolves' playoff results leading to Game 1?
The Timberwolves advanced past the Denver Nuggets in the first round, winning the series despite key injuries.
Who are the key players to watch in the Timberwolves vs Spurs matchup?
Key players include Anthony Edwards for the Timberwolves and Victor Wembanyama for the Spurs.
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Minnesota is trying to reach the conference finals for the third consecutive season (falling 4-1 to Dallas in 2024 and 4-1 to Oklahoma City last year) and make the NBA Finals for the first time (Charlotte, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis and New Orleans are other franchises that have yet to play for a championship).
This will mark the third playoff meeting between these teams with the Spurs winning first-round series in 1999 and 2001. In the regular season, Minnesota was 2-1 against San Antonio, one of three teams (with Denver and Cleveland) that had a winning record this season against the Spurs. San Antonio won 126-123 in the most recent meeting on Jan. 17, when Edwards scored a career-high 55 points.
See below for additional information on the Timberwolves-Spurs game and how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. San Antonio Spurs game preview:
There is hope for the Timberwolves of getting Anthony Edwards back. The Athletic has reported that Edwards has been undergoing âaround-the-clock treatmentâ for his left knee and has reportedly told his teammates he plans to return during the series against the Spurs. Minnesota announced Sunday that Edwards (who missed 11 of the final 14 regular-season games with right knee pain) s cleared for on-court basketball activities and was listed as questionable for Game 1.
Ayo Dosunmu, who scored a career-high 43 points in Game 4 after Edwards' injury, missed the Game 6 clincher over the Nuggets with a sore right calf). Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said Dosunmu is day-to-day and âonly participated in light stuffâ Saturday. Dosunmu led Minnesota at 21.8 points per game in the first round.
The Spurs showed against the Trailblazers that they can win without Victor Wembanyama, the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year and the youngest and first to win the award unanimously. In Wembanyama's Game 3 absence, rookie guard Dylan Harper came off the bench to score 22 of his career-high 27 points in the second half (the second-youngest player to score at least 20 points off the bench in the playoffs since Kobe Bryant). Harper has been leaning on Spurs legend Manu Ginobili, also a left-handed shooter, for advice.
â(Ginobili) makes sure we have conversations about my role," Harper said. "If you're a lefty, you're going to watch every lefty that has played in the NBA. What I take most (from him) is his mentality. Itâs just next game up. If you have a bad game, once you get out of the shower, itâs next game.â
Rookie Carter Bryant also played well in the absence of Wembanyama, who returned to record double-doubles in his return for Games 4 and 5. DeâAaron Fox led the Spurs in scoring the past two games with 28 points in Game 4 and 21 in Game 5. âIt's taken a while, but it definitely feels good,â Fox, who is in his ninth season but second with San Antonio after being acquired last year from Sacramento, said after his first series win in the playoffs.
It also was the first playoff series victory for Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson, who took over for five-time NBA champion Gregg Popovich early last season and was promoted to full-time coach in May 2025.
NBC Sports will present up to 23 games in the First Round and 11 games in the Conference Semifinals across either NBC and Peacock, or Peacock and NBCSN. Playoff programming concludes with exclusive coverage of the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock.
Which playoff rounds will be available on Peacock?
Peacockâs NBA Playoffs coverage spans multiple rounds, including Round 1, the Conference Semifinals, and the Western Conference Finals, with coverage evolving as the postseason progresses.
Will Peacock show both Eastern and Western Conference playoff games?
Yes. During earlier rounds such as Round 1 and the Conference Semifinals, Peacock will carry a mix of Eastern and Western Conference playoff games.
How to sign up for Peacock:
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