The Spurs did not just beat the Timberwolves; they thrashed them in a historic 38-point masterclass. But there was a secret to that comeback, and Yankee Scores has the inside story. 

Victor Wembanyama had approached De’Aaron Fox’s locker as the dressing room emptied following San Antonio Spurs’ shocking loss against the Timberwolves in game one of their Western Conference semifinals on Monday.

From “Quiet Conversations” to Dominance

They had whispered something and left smiling.

Wembanyama gave a hint about the quiet conversation he had with Fox at his locker after Game 1.

“As a team, we talk a lot, whether it’s keeping everything tight or [giving] extra motivation to each other,” he said. “There’s always a bunch of dynamics going on. But we were trying to keep the positivity.”

But no one would have ever expected the duo to turn around and thrash the Timberwolves 133-95 in Game 2 just two days later, tying up the series 1-1 ahead of the trip to Minnesota.

“We talked about how we were in a good place,” Fox told ESPN. “We played like s—, and we lost [Game 1] by two.”

Following shaky debuts in Game 1, Wembanyama and Fox stabilized and soared, helping the Spurs score the most points ever in a postseason game since 1983.

rattlin’ rims 🔥 pic.twitter.com/m28mWOTX1K

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 7, 2026

With a total of just 21 points and a field goal percentage of 32.2% (including a 0-for-12 shooting clip from beyond the arc to start the series), the All-Star tandem rediscovered their rhythm, making 48% of their shots and playing well enough for their team to secure their third-biggest win in franchise history by 38 points, when they were leading by as many as 47 at one point.

Coach Johnson’s Winning Strategy

In the Spurs’ dressing room before Game 2, there was some sort of calm chaos without the presence of the Sixth Man of the Year Keldon Johnson, whose music used to be blasting around the time the players were getting ready. The Spurs were looking for the veteran point guard, who turned out to be looking for Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson.

“The message was simple,” the coach said. “We’re at our best when he’s in attack mode. He has probably the strongest ripple effect on our team when he’s pushing the pace because you have Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper that follow suit with that. Then our shooters get shots in transition, Victor plays in space and so on.

“I didn’t need to challenge him. I just wanted him to know that I may not always tell him that, but it’s true. He has not overdribbled or overshot one time for our team. So when it’s time for him to impose his will, it doesn’t always have to be the last four minutes of the game.”

Fox started early, reeling off nine points in the opening frame while Wembanyama added seven.

Series Outlook

Overall, with regard to the playoffs and regular season combined, Spurs are now 17-5 following a loss, which is the best record in the league. They will be playing against the Timberwolves in game three tomorrow night in Minneapolis at the Target Center, a venue they have not won at in their past seven games.