San Antonio Spurs vs Minnesota Timberwolves Picks and Prediction for Friday May 8 2026
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The Western Conference Semifinals continue on Friday night when the San Antonio Spurs travel to face the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center in Minneapolis. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:30 PM on May 8, 2026, and the game will be available on Prime Video. The series enters Game 3 tied at one game apiece after both teams earned convincing moments through the opening two contests. San Antonio enters the matchup listed as a 3.5-point road favorite with the total sitting at 215.5 points. Get in on all the NBA action with our free NBA Picks.
Previous Game Recap
Game 2 of the series quickly turned into a dominant performance for San Antonio as the Spurs rolled to a 133-95 victory on their home floor. San Antonio controlled the game from the opening quarter and continued to extend the margin throughout the night. The Spurs outscored Minnesota 35-18 in the second quarter before adding 39 points in the third to completely take control of the contest. By the fourth quarter, the game was already out of reach as San Antonio evened the series in emphatic fashion.
Minnesota struggled offensively for much of the night despite solid scoring efforts from several starters. Julius Randle finished with 12 points and added five rebounds while Jaden McDaniels contributed 12 points and four assists. Rudy Gobert posted 10 rebounds while Anthony Edwards scored 12 points, though Minnesota shot just 40 percent from the field and committed 22 turnovers in the loss. Naz Reid also added 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench during the difficult road defeat.
San Antonio received production throughout the lineup in the victory. Victor Wembanyama came close to leading the way with 19 points and 15 rebounds while De’Aaron Fox also scored 16 points and shot efficiently from the floor. Stephon Castle added 21 points and Devin Vassell scored 10 more as the Spurs shot 50 percent overall and knocked down 16 three-pointers. Keldon Johnson contributed 9 points and 10 rebounds off the bench while Dylan Harper added 11 points and five assists in another strong all-around team effort.
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Spurs Looking to Carry Momentum on the Road
The San Antonio Spurs enter Game 3 with a 62-20 overall record and a strong 29-12 mark away from home this season. San Antonio recently won over Minnesota by a 133-95 score in Game 2 after recently losing to the Timberwolves 104-102 in Game 1. Prior to this series, the Spurs swept Portland with three consecutive victories, including recent wins by scores of 120-108, 114-93, and 114-95. The Spurs have consistently found offensive rhythm throughout the postseason and have now won four of their last five games.
San Antonio has been one of the most balanced teams statistically this season. The Spurs averaged 119.8 points per game while allowing just 99.9 points per contest. They shot 48 percent from the field while averaging 47 rebounds and 28.1 assists per game. Defensively, San Antonio also averaged 5.5 blocks and 7.5 steals per game, showing the ability to impact opponents both inside and on the perimeter.
One of the biggest strengths for San Antonio has been its ability to limit opposing scoring opportunities while maintaining offensive efficiency. The Spurs allow fewer than 100 points per game and recently held Minnesota to just 95 points in Game 2. Their rebounding advantage and passing efficiency have also helped create consistent scoring chances throughout the playoffs.
Timberwolves Return Home Seeking Response
The Minnesota Timberwolves finished the regular season with a 49-33 overall record and went 26-15 at home. Minnesota recently lost to San Antonio 133-95 after previously earning a 104-102 victory in Game 1 on the road. Before facing the Spurs, the Timberwolves won two of three against Denver, including recent victories by scores of 112-96 and 110-98. Minnesota has alternated wins and losses over its last five games entering this important home matchup.
The Timberwolves averaged 118 points per game during the season while allowing 110 points per contest. Minnesota also shot 48 percent from the field and averaged 44.1 rebounds and 26.1 assists per game. Defensively, the Timberwolves averaged 5.8 blocks and 8.7 steals, showing an ability to create extra possessions and disrupt opposing offenses throughout the year.
One area Minnesota will need to improve after Game 2 is ball security and defensive consistency. The Timberwolves committed 22 turnovers in the previous game and allowed San Antonio to shoot 50 percent from the field. Minnesota has shown it can compete in this series after winning Game 1, but the Timberwolves will need a much cleaner overall performance returning to their home floor.
San Antonio Spurs vs Minnesota Timberwolves Picks and Prediction
Spread Pick
- San Antonio Spurs -3.5
The pick in this matchup is the San Antonio Spurs -3.5. San Antonio has been the more complete statistical team throughout the season and showed that clearly in Game 2 with a dominant 38-point victory. The Spurs hold advantages in points scored, points allowed, rebounds, and assists while also entering this matchup with a strong 29-12 road record. Minnesota already proved it can compete by winning Game 1, but the Spurs responded with one of their strongest performances of the postseason. San Antonio’s defensive numbers combined with its offensive depth give the visitors the edge entering Friday night.
Total Pick
- Under 212.5
The lean is toward the under 215.5 points. San Antonio has allowed just 99.9 points per game this season and held Minnesota to only 95 points in the previous matchup. While both teams averaged at least 118 points offensively during the regular season, playoff games often become more defensive as the series progresses. Minnesota also struggled with turnovers in Game 2, and if the Timberwolves focus on slowing the pace and cleaning up mistakes at home, this game could stay slightly below the posted total.
Final Score Prediction: San Antonio Spurs 108 – Minnesota Timberwolves 102
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