Overview
- The series opens Monday in San Antonio at Frost Bank Center, setting up a marquee matchup between French centers Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert.
- Gobert praised Wembanyama’s meticulous prep in recent comments, citing a question about home water filters as an example of the 22-year-old’s focus on body care.
- The Timberwolves enter without Donte DiVincenzo for the season after a torn Achilles, and Anthony Edwards is expected to miss the start with a hyperextended left knee and bone bruise, though a return later in the series is possible.
- Wembanyama, the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 21.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 4.0 blocks in Round 1, while Gobert anchored Minnesota’s win over Denver with stout defense on Nikola Jokic and strong rebounding.
- Oddsmakers heavily favor San Antonio to advance, even though Minnesota took the regular-season series 2–1 behind Edwards’ hot shooting, pointing to a defense-first clash that could hinge on paint control and shot selection.