Victor Wembanyama drops 39 points as Spurs take 3-0 lead over Timberwolves

Victor Wembanyama just posted the best playoff game of his career. The Spurs needed it.

(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / REUTERS)

The Minnesota Timberwolves didn’t make it easy, but the San Antonio Spurs have a 2-1 lead.

Behind a superb night from Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs posted a 115-108 win in Game 3 on Friday to put their opponent on the ropes in the Western Conference semifinals. They will go for a 3-1 lead in Game 4 on Sunday (7:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock).

Wembanyama finished with 39 points on 13-of-18 shooting with 15 rebounds and 5 blocks, easily the best playoff performance of his career after seven games.

Here’s the complete list of players who had posted at least 39 points, 15 rebounds and 5 blocks in a single playoff game before Friday: Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain.

It briefly looked like it would be easy for the Spurs, who opened the game with an 18-3 run to quiet the Target Center. That crowed got louder, however, when the Timberwolves responded with a 19-5 run to close the first quarter.

The Timberwolves understood what the needed to do. The Spurs couldn’t be allowed to get comfortable. Wembanyama had to be challenged every time he was near the basketball. Their ballhandlers had to be harassed at every opportunity. Even with the officials allowing a physical game, the two teams were called for a combined 48 fouls.

San Antonio managed to survive, with some toughness of their own and Wembanyama’s heroics pushing them the rest of the way. Stephon Castle also supplied 13 points and 12 assists.