The supreme law of Wembanyama

Anyone eager to declare that Victor Wembanyama is already the best player on the planet – on this one or any other – can point to this game as Exhibit A. The same goes for those who believe, in ever-growing numbers, that he will end up among the greatest ever, one of those figures who reshape the sport itself. In truth, he already is. This game in Minneapolis (115–108) may stand, for now, as his playoff peak – a Mona Lisa that, as is so often the case with him, could be surpassed as soon as tomorrow, when the Spurs return to the road with a chance to take a 3–1 lead that would feel like checkmate heading back to San Antonio. Historically, the Texans have won four of their five playoff games in Minnesota. This one was crucial – and hard-earned – in reclaiming home-court advantage. One more tomorrow, and…

That line of thinking, though less than 48 hours away, may be getting ahead of itself. The Timberwolves will fight with everything they have. They did so in this Game 3, which, despite their offensive struggles, would likely have been enough to beat almost any opponent… except one with Wembanyama. Then again, they didn’t shine offensively precisely because Wembanyama was there. Everything begins and ends with the Frenchman, still only 22 and, astonishingly, playing in the first playoffs of his NBA career. His Spurs now have six wins, and by this stage it’s hard to find anyone still clinging to arguments about inexperience or a project still under construction to claim they can’t win ten more and take the title. First, though, they must finish taming these Wolves, who, as in recent years, draw strength from anywhere once the playoffs arrive. They transform.

But even that won’t be enough against Wembanyama. Playing well – or even very well – isn’t sufficient. Effort alone won’t cut it: relentless defense, dominance on the boards, and a commanding edge in second-chance points (30–12) don’t bridge the gap. Not even Anthony Edwards returning to the starting lineup, despite knee trouble, logging over 41 minutes and rediscovering stretches of superstar form (32 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists), makes the decisive difference. Nor does switching out Mike Conley, overwhelmed by the game’s physical intensity, for Ayo Dosunmu after halftime, or Naz Reid (18+9+5) charging into hero mode in a fourth quarter where the Wolves seemed on the verge of a comeback countless times. The closest they came was a nail-biting 100–102 before a final 13–8 run iced the game. Cold water in Minnesota, wolves cornered. A thunderous effort that ran out just short.

It feels, ultimately, as though nothing matters because on the other side of the court – in fact, everywhere – stands Wembanyama. A player who constantly moves the finish line just a little farther away: no matter how fast the opponent runs, he won’t let them cross it. His influence on every possession is overwhelming, exhausting – physically and mentally – for opponents. Rudy Gobert does what he can in one-on-one duels that resemble an NBA version of Godzilla vs. Kong, but the Spur prevails because his game extends far beyond the paint, where his compatriot – fresh off troubling Nikola Jokic in the first round – becomes far less effective.

By his mere presence, the Wolves managed just 38 points in the paint, while the midrange games of Julius Randle and Jaden McDaniels (8-for-34 combined) turned into an airless maze. Opponents are shooting just 34.5% against him in the playoffs – 14.6% below their usual average. In this game, they went 4-for-21 on shots directly contested by him. His defensive impact is thunderous, at times overwhelming. He dictates the script of games – and soon, of entire championships.

And then there’s the offense. Wembanyama delivered a masterpiece there as well, combining elite coordination near the rim with accuracy from deep. An impossible-to-defend torment: 39 points, 15 rebounds, 5 blocks, shooting 13-for-18 overall, 3-for-5 from three, and 10-for-12 from the free-throw line. He becomes just the fifth player in playoff history to post at least 39 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks – joining Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Wilt Chamberlain – and the first ever, including the regular season, to add at least three three-pointers and over 70% shooting to that stat line. Yet the defining stretch came in the fourth quarter: 16 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, 5-for-7 shooting, and a perfect 4-for-4 from the line.

In those final 12 minutes, he absorbed and returned every blow from a Wolves team that would have beaten almost anyone else. He did it while playing more than half a quarter with five fouls, picking up his fifth when the score hit 99–98. He answered Reid’s momentum-shifting three with a surgical one of his own and burrowed into the minds of opponents who now have little time to reset, shake off the shadow of his endless wingspan, and convince themselves they can still win. And they can. The Wolves must win tomorrow to level the series at 2–2. In this game, they recovered from a dreadful start (more than half a quarter without a field goal, trailing 18–3) and put behind them the nightmare of Game 2 (133–95). They competed, but lacked one more gear – the extra level demanded by this transcendent version of a player redefining everything on the floor.

Around Wembanyama’s masterful second half, the Spurs continue to grow into a team that understands its mission: to orbit their leader, act as his guard, and fill the few spaces he does not occupy. A 6-for-10 burst from three in the third quarter (a decisive 35–28 stretch) tilted the game just enough to keep the Wolves within reach but always chasing. De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle weren’t brilliant but stayed persistent; Devin Vassell read the game well, and Keldon Johnson broke through some of the struggles that had hampered him this postseason. It was enough – clearly defined roles, timely shots, solid defense – because the rest is supplied by a singular talent already writing a story whose limits are impossible to imagine. Better, then, to sit back, watch, and prepare for moments that until recently seemed unthinkable. That is what the Timberwolves are up against – and despite it all, their performance showed they are still alive, even if a sizable piece of their heart is already broken.

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Minnesota Timberwolves

Stats

12 Kyle Anderson
19 Joan Beringer
22 Jaylen Clark
10 Mike Conley
13 Ayo Dosunmu
5 Anthony Edwards
27 Rudy Gobert
8 Bones Hyland
7 Joe Ingles
3 Jaden McDaniels
4 Julian Phillips
30 Julius Randle
11 Naz Reid
1 Terrence Shannon Jr.

Stats

	Min	Pts	TR	OR	DR	Ast	Los	Rec	Blk	S1	S2	S3	RF	CF
12 Kyle Anderson	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0/0	0/0	0/0	0	0
19 Joan Beringer	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0/0	0/0	0/0	0	0
22 Jaylen Clark	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0/0	0/0	0/0	0	0
10 Mike Conley	4	0	2	0	2	0	1	0	0	0/0	0/0	0/1	0	0
13 Ayo Dosunmu	32	11	7	1	6	5	4	1	0	0/0	1/4	3/8	0	3
5 Anthony Edwards	40	32	14	1	13	6	2	0	1	5/6	9/17	3/9	0	5
27 Rudy Gobert	31	13	7	3	4	2	1	0	3	1/1	6/7	0/0	0	2
8 Bones Hyland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0/0	0/0	0/0	0	0
7 Joe Ingles	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0/0	0/0	0/0	0	0
3 Jaden McDaniels	40	17	7	4	3	2	1	1	1	4/4	2/14	3/8	0	4
4 Julian Phillips	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0/0	0/0	0/0	0	0
30 Julius Randle	31	12	6	4	2	0	2	1	0	6/6	3/9	0/3	0	5
11 Naz Reid	31	18	9	2	7	5	0	0	2	2/4	2/5	4/8	0	4
1 Terrence Shannon Jr.	28	5	2	0	2	2	1	0	0	0/0	1/3	1/3	0	2

San Antonio Spurs

Stats

40 Harrison Barnes
18 Bismack Biyombo
11 Carter Bryant
5 Stephon Castle
30 Julian Champagnie
4 De'Aaron Fox
2 Dylan Harper
3 Keldon Johnson
7 Luke Kornet
0 Jordan McLaughlin
8 Kelly Olynyk
22 Mason Plumlee
24 Devin Vassell
43 Lindy Waters III
1 Victor Wembanyama

Stats

	Min	Pts	TR	OR	DR	Ast	Los	Rec	Blk	S1	S2	S3	RF	CF
40 Harrison Barnes	6	0	1	0	1	0	0	1	0	0/0	0/0	0/0	0	0
18 Bismack Biyombo	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0/0	0/0	0/0	0	0
11 Carter Bryant	7	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0/0	0/0	2/2	0	2
5 Stephon Castle	39	13	4	0	4	12	4	0	0	6/8	2/8	1/3	0	3
30 Julian Champagnie	28	6	12	4	8	3	0	2	0	0/0	0/1	2/6	0	2
4 De'Aaron Fox	34	17	3	1	2	5	2	1	0	2/3	6/14	1/5	0	3
2 Dylan Harper	20	8	4	1	3	1	1	1	1	4/6	2/4	0/2	0	2
3 Keldon Johnson	18	11	2	0	2	1	0	1	0	3/4	1/3	2/4	0	1
7 Luke Kornet	10	2	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	0/0	1/1	0/0	0	3
0 Jordan McLaughlin	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0/0	0/0	0/0	0	0
8 Kelly Olynyk	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0/0	0/0	0/0	0	0
22 Mason Plumlee	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0/0	0/0	0/0	0	0
24 Devin Vassell	36	13	6	1	5	3	1	2	0	0/0	5/8	1/6	0	2
43 Lindy Waters III	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0/0	0/0	0/0	0	0
1 Victor Wembanyama	36	39	15	1	14	1	1	1	5	10/12	10/13	3/5	0	5