The Minnesota Timberwolves walked into Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals confident, maybe a little too much. They were fresh off a Game 1 win, and had the “we got this” energy. But playoff basketball has the ability to shake even the most comfortable teams. At the end of the night their coach Chris Finch walked out of the locker room, telling the media, “I just told them we got punk’d.” Because the San Antonio Spurs didn’t just win the game; they nailed the game in the likes of which the franchise hadn’t seen in 43 years.

The Spurs unleashed a carnage of two-way dominance on Thursday night, coasting to a 133-95 victory. The 38-point gap in tonight’s final score handed and the Timberwolves the largest postseason loss in franchise history, eclipsing their previous record of 30 points.

For the Spurs this was an iconic moment. It was their highest-scoring playoff performance since a 40-point demolition of the Denver Nuggets back in 1983, a throwback to a version of the franchise that used to make nights like this feel routine..

At the center of the historic storm was , who continues to make the impossible look routine with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 2 blocks tonight. With a dominant interior performance, Wemby became the fastest player in NBA history to reach 100+ points and 30+ blocks in the playoffs. His presence anchored a defense that completely suffocated the Timberwolves from the opening tip.

Unlike Game 1, where the Spurs struggled offensively and indecisively, Game 2 featured cleaner actions, elite ball movement, and a level of composure that belied the roster’s youth. And while of course, the credit goes to the entire team, they actually had help from outside that maybe made this outcome possible.

You see after the Game 1 loss, the Spurs didn’t want to overkill anything in practice. They kept it light and went straight to film work, to focus on the adjustments for Game 2. However, in that room there was one such man, who made a difference- Gregg Popovich.

Popovich sat with the coaches and players as they broke the tape together. According to Matthew Tynan on the Locked On Spurs podcast, it wasn’t a formal coaching return, but Popovich was actively involved, offering input as the team reviewed mistakes. And Pop being there carries a lot of weight. Sure, he might have stepped away from active coaching because of health reasons, but moments like this just show how much his presence matters. And you already see the results in Game 2.

Unlike Game 1, where the Spurs struggled offensively and indecisively, Game 2 featured cleaner actions, elite ball movement, and a level of composure that belied the roster’s youth. The Spurs flipped the script on Minnesota’s physicality, forcing 22 turnovers and holding the Wolves to a staggering 35 points at halftime, which also marks another unwanted record: their lowest-scoring half of the entire season, regular or postseason.

How Spurs’ Game 2 adjustments put Edwards under real pressure

As much as a championship zeal and urgency Spurs showed by calling in popovich and making changes and more, the Wolves lacked that, as evidenced by the laid-back veteran demeanor. Maybe they felt cushioned by their road split while the Spurs played with the desperation of a team that refused to go down 0-2. The disparity was evident from the jump.

Minnesota turned the ball over on its first three possessions, setting the tone for a night when it simply could not find the basket. The Wolves’ offensive struggles were historic. They finished the first half shooting a dismal 14-of-47 from the field and a cold 2-of-15 from beyond the arc. The Spurs, on the other hand, looked like a team that had actually learned from Game 1.

Stephon Castle was a bit part of that shift. After battling foul trouble in Game 1, Castle remained composed while maintaining his trademark aggression. “We saw a lot of self-inflicted mistakes,” Castle noted regarding the Game 1 loss. “They were small at the time, but for the big goal, hurt us a lot more than it did in the moment. We are trying to fix little things.”

Those “little things” were fixed as Castle showed remarkable composure in Game 2 for someone in his first postseason against real playoff contenders (because, let’s face it, Portland didn’t give the Spurs much playoff stripes). His new mindset translated into a defensive trap that left Anthony Edwards, who is currently playing through a lingering injury and minutes restriction, without his usual explosive first step.

While Castle had 21 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, Ant was slower with 12 points tonight. Even De’Aaron Fox redeemed himself with a 16-point showing.

By the time the fourth quarter arrived, the game had devolved into a pure garbage-time affair with the Spurs leading 104-66. Minnesota coach Chris Finch, widely regarded as the top tactical mind in these playoffs, benched his starters to preserve them for the trip home, effectively throwing in the towel for Game 2.

The Timberwolves now face a daunting task as the series shifts to Minneapolis. While the Spurs have successfully addressed their execution issues, the pressure remains on the young squad to prove it can win in a hostile road environment against a veteran Wolves team featuring battle-tested leaders and a championship-caliber coaching staff.

To spark a comeback in Game 3, Minnesota will likely re-establish its physicality in the interior. The Spurs should expect a much more disciplined Timberwolves offense that prioritizes ball security and seeks to pull Wembanyama away from the rim.

However, after breaking a 43-year-old franchise record, San Antonio has proven that their ‘rebuilding around Wemby’ phase has officially graduated into a championship-standard pursuit.