NBA Playoffs: Wembanyama matches legendary big men with superb Game 3

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) grabs a rebound during the second half of Game 3 of a NBA basketball second-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Friday, May 8, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

NBA scores today: Knicks vs 76ers, Spurs vs Timberwolves

MINNEAPOLIS — Victor Wembanyama plays with an agility and a gracefulness beneath his daunting wingspan that can make his dominance for the San Antonio Spurs on both ends of the floor appear almost effortless.

Fresh cuts and bruises on those long arms after fighting for paint position and jockeying for rebounds all night with the Minnesota Timberwolves made clear Wembanyama had to put in plenty of work to compile 39 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks in a 115-108 victory in Game 3 on Friday that gave the Spurs a 2-1 lead in their second-round NBA playoff series.

READ: NBA Playoffs: Wembanyama lifts Spurs to 2-1 lead vs Timberwolves

👽 HISTORY FOR WEMBY 👽

Tonight, Wemby joined Kareem (2x), Hakeem (3x), and Shaq (3x) as the only players in NBA history to record 35+ PTS, 15+ REB, and 5+ BLK in a postseason game.

Of the four, Wemby is the ONLY ONE to achieve this mark while shooting 70+% from the floor 🤯 https://t.co/8QzOGr20My pic.twitter.com/qMvRgeYl4Y

— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2026

“It’s going to happen,” Wembanyama said. “They’re Wolves, after all.”

The Spurs stayed unbeaten on the road in this postseason with their first win in a truly close game, after four victories in the first round over the Portland Trail Blazers with margins between 12 and 21 points.

“They just continue showing growth,” coach Mitch Johnson said.

Starting with Wembanyama. The 22-year-old phenom from France in his first NBA postseason has played in only seven playoff games, but he has wasted no time writing quite a legacy.

The only other players in NBA history to hit the 35-point, 15-rebound, five-block thresholds in a playoff game? Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Shaquille O’Neal. And only Wembanyama has now done it while shooting better than 70% from the floor. The 7-foot-4 star was 13 for 18 — and 10 for 12 from the line.

READ: NBA Playoffs: Spurs bounce back, hand Timberwolves historic rout

"I had to resort to some things that Hakeem taught me."

Victor Wembanyama (39 PTS, 16 in Q4) credits Hakeem Olajuwon when speaking on the moves he made down the stretch to seal the deal in Game 3 👏

Spurs take a 2-1 series lead in the West Semis! https://t.co/8QzOGr20My pic.twitter.com/ShRSeItAdr

— NBA (@NBA) May 9, 2026

“It’s good to be along with the big fellas,” said Wembanyama, who credited Olajuwon for teaching him a spin fadeaway he sank over his mentor Rudy Gobert during a 16-point fourth quarter.

He did that despite picking up his fifth foul with 6:18 left, sitting for only about a minute down the stretch while helping the Spurs pull away each time the Wolves were within one possession.

“Just staying calm, getting my senses back,” Wembanyama said. “Our coaches tell us what to do. They give us the recipe, so as long as we stay steady and we trust our process we’re going to be all right.”

Wembanyama set an NBA postseason record with 12 blocked shots in the series opener, but he lamented his lack of impact on offense after the 104-102 loss to the Wolves on Monday. He stormed out of the gate for Game 2 by immediately asserting his dominance on both ends of the floor that sparked the Spurs to a 133-95 victory on Wednesday, and the travel north did nothing to stem that.

With a pair of effortless slams off lobs to start, the first one done in reverse, Wembanyama scored the first seven points for the Spurs as they sailed to an 18-3 lead. But he was even more of a force on defense, lurking in the paint and frequently prompting the Wolves to alter their layups and floaters to avoid being swatted.

“He’s a world-class defender. You’re always aware of him,” Wolves guard Ayo Dosunmu said. “Yeah, he’s a gift at that end of the court.”