Chip Scoggins: In battle of superstars, Spurs' Victor Wembanyama was just a little bit better

Chip Scoggins, The Minnesota Star Tribune on May 9, 2026

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MINNEAPOLIS — The marquee attached to Target Center should have included a warning. Caution, the contents inside are extremely flammable.

The temperature for Game 3 on Frida between the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs reached scalding levels. Everyone was ornery. Coaches, players, officials, fans and perhaps even Crunch the mascot.

The game featured lots of shots, lots of fouls, lots of bickering.

Ultimately, homecourt advantage swung back to the Spurs’ ledger with a 115-108 victory because their superstar was just a little more impactful than the Wolves superstar and role players for the home team didn’t bring enough to the fight.

“We had a bunch of great looks,” Anthony Edwards said. “If we make our shots, we win this game.”

Edwards was fabulous in gutting through 40 1/2 minutes on an injured leg, posting 32 points, 14 rebounds and six assists.

Victor Wembanyama was even better.

The Spurs’ 7-4 unicorn scored inside and out and created havoc and uncertainty on defense with a wingspan that stretches like a weeping willow. He tallied 39 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks. He is so tall and so long that he looks like a kid playing on a Nerf hoop in his bedroom.

The Ant-Wemby duel might stand as a preview for playoff tussles for the next decade or so, each capable of taking control of a game in different ways.

Edwards needs more help from his supporting cast to overcome Wembanyama and the Spurs’ collection of young, athletic wing players.

Jaden McDaniels missed 17 shots. Julius Randle had only one made shot and six points with four fouls after three quarters. Ayo Dosunmu had eight points in that same span. All three finished in double figures, but their inefficiency — particularly Randle, the team’s No. 2 scoring option — put the Wolves in chase mode all game.

“Defensive game plan mistakes hurt us,” coach Chris Finch said, “and missed some open shots. And just fouled a little bit too much.”

Game 3 offered more subplots than a crime drama.

The teams combined for 48 fouls. Fans who attended the game will hear a whistle sound in their sleep. The calls from Tony Brothers’ crew were incessant.

Speaking of Brothers, it’s doubtful he and Finch will exchange Christmas cards. Brothers went berserk during an exchange with Finch over a timeout trying to be called. If refs could be awarded a technical, Brothers deserved one.

“Completely unprofessional behavior by him,” Finch said.

Both teams pounded on each other. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell sat courtside as a fan. The action was so physical that he might have been tempted to start calling plays.

Missed shots doomed the Wolves more than anything. They missed their first 12 shots. They attempted 99 shots for the game and missed 61 of them. Hard to win that way against a good team.

McDaniels missed nine of his 10 shots in the fourth quarter. Randle and Dosunmu combined for 7-of-24 shooting overall.

Their shooting woes ran the gamut. They missed open shots. They rushed some shots. And Wemby’s size caused some hesitation.

The Wolves showed better ball movement by driving and kicking and making an extra pass, leading to a bushel of corner 3-point attempts. They just didn’t sink enough.

“They got somebody who is 7-6 on the floor,” Edwards said. “He takes up a lot of space. Just trying to figure out ways to find an open man around him because in the paint, he’s just everywhere.”

Edwards was dynamic, too, in his most extensive action since returning from a knee injury. He looked more like himself than he did in the first two games of this series, when he was on a minutes restriction in San Antonio.

“I told coach however many minutes you need me to play tonight, I’m willing to do it,” Edwards said.

Game 4 on Sunday now becomes a swing game, potentially the difference between a long series and a short one.

“Punch back,” Naz Reid said.

Figuratively speaking, of course.

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