[62738] San Antonio Spurs eliminate Minnesota and advance to the Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City

San Antonio Spurs on the way to the Western Conference Finals

On the night between May 15 and May 16, 2026, the San Antonio Spurs secured their place in the Western Conference Finals (WCF) for the first time since 2017, after a convincing 139-109 road victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, which completed a 4-2 series win. Young star Victor Wembanyama continued his historic performance with averages of 20.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 4.1 blocks in 10 playoff games. According to the NBA, the Spurs will now meet the Oklahoma City Thunder in a series defined by sports channels as a battle for the future of the league.

The controversies surrounding Wembanyama and Edwards' conduct

The victory did not pass without criticism, as an active discourse developed around Wembanyama regarding his playing style. A humorous X account attacked the player's "flops" (simulations), while the fan account BiggySpurs claimed that this is a calculated technique by the player to control his landings and avoid injuries due to his great height.

At the same time, Anthony Edwards received harsh criticism from NBA legends such as Udonis Haslem and Dirk Nowitzki. According to NBA_NewYork, Haslem stated that as a leader, he would not have "shown weakness" by shaking hands with opposing players with 8 minutes left in the game, an action that was interpreted by his critics as an early surrender.

Looking ahead to the Western Conference Finals

The expectations for the series against Oklahoma City are very high. Commentators at ClutchPoints note that Wembanyama feels at his defensive peak. Conversely, according to FDSportsbook, Minnesota is expected to make significant roster changes this coming summer following the failure, with names of stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo emerging as possible candidates to join Edwards.

Despite the Spurs' dominance, SamPrestiGM presents the Oklahoma side, arguing that on paper, the Thunder roster, which includes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, is far superior to San Antonio's young roster. However, Spurs fans are broadcasting cautious optimism, as reflected in tweets by SpursCulture, which call on fans to continue believing in the team even in the face of skeptics.