We’re nearly halfway by way of the season, and tiers are beginning to turn into extra outlined within the Western Convention. Regardless of trying comparatively pedestrian because the Spurs helped convey them again right down to earth from their record-tying begin, the Thunder nonetheless have a reasonably sizable (however not insurmountable) cushion between themselves and the remainder of the West. (If solely the Spurs’ may have their current losses to sub-.500 groups again!) Subsequent, there’s the second tier, that includes groups 2-6 which might be all very shut to one another within the standings however comfortably forward of the play-in, adopted by the play-in tier and at last the tanking dangerous tier.
That second tier is the place each the Spurs and tonight’s opponents discover themselves (though the Spurs are beginning to create their very own cushion on the prime of that tier), with the Minnesota Timberwolves usually assembly expectations for the season whereas the Spurs have exceeded them contemplating most level-headed predictions had them extra in that third tier. However although the Spurs have some separation, don’t be fooled. There’s no room to get snug, and the Wolves have received 4 of their final 5, whereas the Spurs have struggled of late whereas the energy and frequency of the schedule, accidents and offense have allow them to down recently.
The excellent news is the Spurs have had a bent to convey their greatest selves towards higher opponents recently, together with final night time towards the Boston Celtics, they usually haven’t been phased by street crowds. Whereas the Wolves bought the higher of them of their fourth quarter of their first match-up again in November, the Spurs will hope to get revenge tonight.
San Antonio Spurs (27-11) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (25-14)
January 11, 2026 | 6:00 PM CT
Watch: FanDuel Sports activities | Hear: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs accidents: Not due till 1 PM
Timberwolves accidents: Not due till 1 PM
Each groups are on the second night time of a back-t0-back (with journey), however each even have their very own distinctive benefit/drawback. For the Spurs, they’d a two-day break between the Lakers recreation on Wednesday and Celtics recreation on Saturday, whereas the Wolves are taking part in their third recreation in 4 nights. Alternatively, Minnesota’s benefit is that they performed at midday yesterday and subsequently had loads of time to journey again from comparatively close by Cleveland and have a restful night, whereas the Spurs performed at 8:00 PM in Boston and traveled in a lot later.
Finally, any relaxation benefit/drawback between the groups could also be a wash, however the Spurs’ current stretch of “two days on, two days off” (three consecutive back-to-backs with journey between all video games), has been its personal distinctive problem, and the gamers would inform you they’d favor simply alternating days over this. (As a viewer and author, I’d favor it too.)
Victor Wembanyama didn’t play of their first match-up, however it has all the time been enjoyable watching these two French freak-of-nature frenemies (attempt to say that quick out loud) go after one another. Regardless of being usually maligned for his offensive limitations, Rudy Gobert is having a little bit of a renaissance yr for himself, main the league in field-goal proportion at over 72%, third in rebounds, and in rivalry for his fifth Defensive Participant of the 12 months award if Wemby fails to qualify. Alternatively, Wemby is working himself again from his second damage of the season. He’s as soon as once more doing it in a bench function, so they could not see as a lot of one another until that is the sport he strikes again to the beginning lineup, however it nonetheless provides an additional degree of intrigue to the sport.
Nonetheless ready for the offensive rhythm to return
The Spurs have been in an offensive funk ever since their 8-game win streak got here to an finish, and at this level it’s exhausting to know when or the way it will return. Wemby has been the closest factor to constant in his three video games again from a hyper-extended knee, averaging 22 factors off the bench, however the actual offender has been the workforce’s incapacity as a complete to hit threes whereas arguably taking pictures too lots of them, which bogs down the remainder of the offense. The Spurs managed to beat the Celtics final night time with clutch taking pictures and protection, however the sooner extra gamers can discover consistency and shooters like Harrison Barnes can get out of prolonged funks, the higher.
For the Timberwolves followers’ perspective, go to Canis Hoopus.
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