By Tom Orsborn, Staff Writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2026-05-14 13:34:40
2026年5月8日，星期五，明尼阿波利斯标靶中心。在西部半决赛第三场下半场，球迷们挥舞着旗帜。马刺以115-108击败森林狼，系列赛大比分2-1领先。
明尼阿波利斯——马刺队深知，想要在客场终结这轮西部半决赛绝非易事，因为他们面对的是一支背水一战的森林狼队。
第六场对决将于周五晚上8:30在标靶中心进行。马刺此前在这里的第三和第四场比赛中与对手各取一胜，而常规赛期间在这里的战绩则是0胜2负。
“我并不认为我们需要改变心态。我们对待每一场比赛都全神贯注，但显然我们知道这场比赛会很艰难，”马刺前锋德文·瓦塞尔 (Devin Vassell) 说道。
这场比赛将是维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 重返明尼阿波利斯之战。在第四场马刺以109-114落败的比赛中，他在第二节因肘击森林狼中锋纳兹·里德 (Naz Reid) 颈部以上位置，被判二级恶意犯规，从而被直接驱逐出场。
毫无疑问，明尼苏达的球迷会在这位22岁的马刺球星每次触球时送上嘘声。
“我们知道他们的球迷会陷入疯狂，”瓦塞尔说道，“我们也知道他们已经被逼入了绝境。所以，我们必须拿出最佳表现，打得极其稳健，不能有任何疏忽。”
“我们必须保持高度专注，因为我们知道他们会向我们发起最猛烈的冲击。”
森林狼在拖入抢七大战方面很有经验。在2024年西部半决赛大比分2-3落后时，安东尼·爱德华兹 (Anthony Edwards) 砍下27分，杰登·麦克丹尼尔斯 (Jaden McDaniels) 贡献21分，带领明尼苏达在第六场以115-70大胜丹佛。
随后，森林狼在抢七大战中击败掘金晋级分区决赛，但最终以1-4不敌达拉斯。
“我没看到更衣室里有人感到过度担忧，”在周二第五场以97-126惨败后，爱德华兹在霜冻银行中心表示。
“这只是一场篮球赛，”爱德华兹补充道，“上场去，穿好战靴，准备迎接战斗。”
里德表示：“我们知道该做什么，也清楚目前的处境。我们以前也经历过这种情况。现在不是恐慌的时候，而是要保持冷静，打出我们的篮球风格。”
NBA周三宣布，如果马刺在周五终结系列赛，分区决赛将于5月18日在俄克拉荷马城开打。
如果森林狼赢得第六场，分区决赛则将于5月20日在俄克拉荷马城拉开帷幕。
2026年5月12日，星期二，圣安东尼奥霜冻银行中心。在西部半决赛第五场下半场，明尼苏达森林狼前锋麦克丹尼尔斯 (3号) 对圣安东尼奥马刺后卫斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle) (5号) 犯规。马刺以126-97击败森林狼，目前大比分3-2领先。
卡斯尔保持冷静心态
马刺后卫卡斯尔在整个季后赛中经历了大量的身体对抗。在第五场比赛后，他谈到了在面对凶狠犯规以及裁判未吹罚的大量拉扯时，自己是如何努力保持冷静的。
“我们是两支争夺西部决赛席位的球队，所以这并非针对个人，”卡斯尔说道，“这就是篮球。当我们被犯规，或者觉得对方有附加动作时，我们必须迅速翻篇。比赛还在继续，所以在那一刻要尽量保持头脑清醒。”
这位2024-25赛季NBA年度最佳新秀在本系列赛中场均得到17.6分、全队最高的6.2次助攻、4.6个篮板和1.0次抢断。
2026年5月10日，星期日，明尼阿波利斯标靶中心。在西部半决赛第四场上半场，明尼苏达森林狼后卫爱德华兹 (5号) 在得分后指向队友。
森林狼球星休整完毕蓄势待发
爱德华兹将带着系列赛场均23.6分的表现进入第六场。他刚刚获得了急需的休息，他相信这对他酸痛的膝盖大有裨益。
“我太开心了，”他在第五场比赛后说道，“我准备好迎接这两天的休息了，我很期待。”
在连续两场出战40分钟并砍下30+得分后，爱德华兹在周二晚上的39分钟出场时间里得到了20分。
由生成式 AI 翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
点击查看原文：Spurs expect 'crazy' atmosphere for Game 6 against Timberwolves
Spurs expect ‘crazy’ atmosphere for Game 6 against Timberwolves
Fans wave a flag during the second half of Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals at Target Center in Minneapolis, Friday, May 8, 2026. The Spurs defeated the Timberwolves 115-108, leading the series 2-1.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Spurs understand it won’t be easy to close out the Western Conference semifinals against a desperate Timberwolves team on their home court.
Game 6 is set for 8:30 p.m. Friday at Target Center, where the Spurs split Games 3 and 4 and were 0-2 in the regular season.
"I don’t necessarily say it’s a different mentality we need. We go into every game locked in, but obviously we know it’s going to be tough,” Spurs forward Devin Vassell said.
The game will mark Victor Wembanyama’s return to Minneapolis after he received an automatic ejection in the second quarter of the Spurs’ 114-109 loss in Game 4 when he received a Flagrant 2 foul for elbowing Timberwolves center Naz Reid above the neck.
Minnesota fans will undoubtedly boo the 22-year-old Spurs star every time he touches the ball.
“We know their fans are going to be going crazy,” Vassell said. "We know their backs are going to be against the wall. So, we’re going to have to bring our ‘A’ game. We’re going to have to be super solid. We can’t have any lapses.
“We just got to be super locked in because we know they’re going to give us their best shot.”
The Timberwolves have experience at forcing a Game 7. Trailing 3-2 in the 2024 Western Conference semifinals, Anthony Edwards scored 27 points and Jaden McDaniels added 21 to lead Minnesota to a 115-70 victory over Denver in Game 6 of that series.
The Timberwolves went on to beat the Nuggets in Game 7 to advance to the conference finals, where they lost to Dallas in five games.
“I don’t see nobody in our locker room that’s too worried,” Edwards said after Tuesday’s 126-97 loss in Game 5 at the Frost Bank Center.
“There’s another basketball game,” Edwards added. “Come out, put your boots on and get ready to go to war.”
Said Reid, “We know what we’ve got to do. We know the situation we’re in. We’ve been in this situation before. It’s no time to panic. This is when you keep calm and play our brand of basketball."
If the Spurs wrap up the series Friday, the conference finals will start May 18 in Oklahoma City, the NBA announced Wednesday.
Should the Timberwolves win Game 6, the conference finals will open May 20 in Oklahoma City.
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) fouls San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) during the second half of Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Tuesday, May 12, 2026. The Spurs defeated the Timberwolves 126-97, now leading the series 3-2.
Castle maintains perspective
Spurs guard Stephon Castle, who has faced a lot of physical play throughout the playoffs, discussed after Game 5 how he tries to maintain his composure while on the receiving end of hard fouls and plenty of clutching and grabbing that the officials let pass without a whistle.
“We’re two teams battling for a spot in the Western Conference finals, so it’s not anything personal,” Castle said. “It’s basketball. So when we’re getting fouled or we feel like something was a little extra, we got to move past it quick. We have a basketball game going on, so just trying to stay level-headed in that sense.”
The 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year is averaging 17.6 points, a team-high 6.2 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.0 steals in the series.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) points to a teammate after scoring during the first half of Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals at Target Center in Minneapolis on Sunday, May 10, 2026.
Timberwolves star rested and ready
Edwards will enter Game 6 averaging 23.6 points in the series and coming off some much-needed rest, which he believes will do wonders for his sore knees.
“I’m so happy,” he said after Game 5. “I’m ready to get two days (off). I’m excited for it.”
After scoring 30-plus points in consecutive games in which he played 40 minutes, Edwards had 20 in 39 minutes on Tuesday night.
By Tom Orsborn, Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News