Wembanyama dominates and quotes Popovich: “When you win, you’re never as good as you think”
The Spurs rout the Timberwolves, and Victor Wembanyama brings Gregg Popovich’s mindset on handling wins and losses into his postgame comments
After the minor stumble in Game 1, the San Antonio Spurs showed exactly what they’re made of. In Game 2 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio controlled the game from start to finish, cruising to a 133-95 win – a 38-point margin that leaves little room for interpretation.
The clear star of the night was, of course, Victor Wembanyama. The French center had been under fire after Game 1: despite setting an NBA playoff record with 12 blocks in a single game – along with 11 points and 15 rebounds for a historic triple-double – his offensive performance had left plenty to be desired. Just 5-for-17 from the field, 0-for-8 from three, and a few too many offensive rebounds allowed in the second half.
In Game 2, Wemby answered like a superstar. He finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 2 blocks in just 26 minutes, becoming the youngest player in Spurs history to post those numbers in a playoff game, according to StatMuse. But the real difference from Game 1 wasn’t the stat line: it was the efficiency.
After the game, the French star spoke simply but meaningfully about what worked:
I liked seeing how everyone helped each other. Tonight really felt like a system that was working
Victor Wembanyama
And when a reporter asked whether anger or frustration had fueled his bounce-back effort, Wembanyama didn’t dodge the question:
There’s always anger and frustration, and in the playoffs all of that gets amplified
Victor Wembanyama
It’s worth remembering that Wembanyama had already dominated the first round against the Trail Blazers, even after suffering a concussion in Game 2 and missing Game 3. If he regains consistency with his jumper and returns to the level he showed against Portland, it will be very difficult for an injury-hit Minnesota team to turn this series around.
Gregg Popovich’s quote after the game
Postgame, the French phenom also shared a reflection from Gregg Popovich, the longtime Spurs coach, that perfectly captures the team’s mindset in this series:
When you win, you’re never as good as you think you are. When you lose, you’re never that bad
Victor Wembanyama
A simple but powerful message that speaks to the mental balance required in the NBA playoffs and the growth of this Spurs group.
On the Wolves’ side, the situation is far from ideal. Coach Chris Finch is already dealing with a growing injury report: in Game 2, Ayo Dosunmu suffered a heel issue, adding to the calf problem he had already been managing. Even so, Minnesota had already stolen home-court advantage by winning Game 1 in San Antonio, and this team has repeatedly shown it won’t go down easily.
The series now shifts to Minnesota, where the Timberwolves will have the energy of their home crowd. But the Spurs arrive with momentum, and with Wembanyama trending upward, a combination that should worry anyone.