Were all of Victor Wembanyama's blocks legitimate? Timberwolves say No.

Yahoo Sports3h ago11 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

Victor Wembanyama set a new NBA playoff record with 12 blocks, but Timberwolves players claim several were uncalled goaltending. Coach Chris Finch expressed concern over the officiating after reviewing game tape.

Key points

Victor Wembanyama broke the NBA playoff record for most blocks in a game
He finished with 12 blocks, surpassing the previous record by two
Timberwolves players questioned the legitimacy of several blocks
Coach Chris Finch noted at least four blocks may have been goaltending
The Timberwolves won the game 104-102

Victor WembanyamaDwight HowardSan Antonio SpursMinnesota Timberwolves

Not everyone was over the moon that Victor Wembanyama broke the NBA playoff record for most blocks in a game during Game 1 of the conference semifinals between the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves, Monday, May 4.

The 2026 Defensive Player of the Year finished with 12 blocks on the night, passing the previous mark by two. He also was one swat shy of Dwight Howard’s record for blocks in one half of a playoff game in what ended up being a triple-double performance with 11 points and 15 rebounds.

A day after the remarkable outing in San Antonio, members of the Timberwolves decried Wembanyama’s final stats after even they they earned a 104-102 road win. After coaches and players looked at the game tape, they came to the conclusion that several of Wembanyama’s blocks were not actually blocks, but uncalled goaltending.

“Obviously, he had a historic night, but when we looked at ‘em, at least four of ‘em were goaltending, maybe even a fifth,” Minnesota head coach Chris Finch told reporters Tuesday, May 5. “To me, it’s a little alarming that none of ‘em were called.”