Mike Conley on the non-suspension for Wembanyama: “I don’t think we thought about it at all. Once the ruling came down, we expected that. Move forward. We don’t want guys to miss games. We want to play against the best.”
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San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama received some strong words from Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley before Game 5.
Victor Wembanyama avoided a suspension after his Game 4 ejection. Now comes the harder part for the San Antonio Spurs star: responding without letting the Minnesota Timberwolves drag him into another game that is played as much on edge as it is above the rim.
Timberwolves guard Mike Conley, speaking with ESPN’s Anthony Slater, said Minnesota did not spend much time debating whether Wembanyama should have been suspended after his Flagrant 2 foul on Naz Reid. Conley’s message was not framed as outrage. It was closer to a veteran challenge.
“Honestly, I don’t think we even thought about it much at all,” Conley said. “Once the ruling came down, it was just like we expected that and just moved forward. We don’t want guys to miss games. We want to play against the best.”
That puts the focus directly back on Wembanyama for Game 5. The NBA did not add further punishment after he was ejected in Game 4, clearing him to play as the series returns to San Antonio tied 2-2.
Mike Conley on the non-suspension for Wembanyama: “I don’t think we thought about it at all. Once the ruling came down, we expected that. Move forward. We don’t want guys to miss games. We want to play against the best.”
Conley’s comments were measured, but they carried a clear message: Minnesota expects Wembanyama on the floor, and the Wolves are comfortable with the series becoming more physical.
“We seem to be in the middle of a lot of those series where it gets real physical, chippy,” Conley said. “Game by game it changes. Depending on who you have as a crew dictates how physical you can be, and we have to be smart with that.”
That line matters for Wembanyama as much as anyone.
The Spurs center was tossed in Game 4 after elbowing Reid while fighting through contact on a rebound. Wembanyama finished with just 4 points and 4 rebounds in 12 minutes, and the Wolves went on to win 114-109. The result shifted the series from a potential 3-1 Spurs lead to a 2-2 fight heading back to Frost Bank Center.
Conley’s point was that the whistle cannot be treated as a fixed thing. What was allowed in Game 3 may not be allowed in Game 5. What gets ignored early may get reviewed late. That is the veteran playoff lesson being placed in front of Wembanyama.
“You can’t be two games ago. It can’t be last game,” Conley said. “You have to be ready for what’s called tonight.”
For the Spurs, that is the balancing act. They need Wembanyama to play with force, especially after he was limited by the ejection in Game 4. But they cannot afford another emotional flashpoint that removes their best player or puts him in foul trouble.
Wembanyama is available, but the Spurs’ backcourt is suddenly uncertain.
De’Aaron Fox is listed as questionable with right ankle soreness, according to the NBA’s official 3:45 p.m. injury report for May 12. Donte DiVincenzo is listed out for Minnesota because of a right Achilles tendon repair.
Dylan Harper later joined the Spurs’ injury picture as questionable with knee soreness. Reuters reported that Harper participated in shootaround after scoring 24 points in Game 4, matching Fox for the team lead.
That makes Wembanyama’s Game 5 role even more important. If Fox is limited or unavailable, San Antonio loses one of its primary creators. If Harper is limited, the Spurs lose a bench scorer who has already proven he can handle playoff minutes.
Minnesota has its own concern, even with Wembanyama back in the middle. Anthony Edwards has been playing through knee trouble, including a hyperextended left knee that caused a deep bone bruise. Edwards still delivered 36 points in Game 4, including a late-game push that helped Minnesota even the series.
That creates a fascinating Game 5 contrast. The Wolves are asking Edwards to keep carrying them while not fully healthy. The Spurs are asking Wembanyama to be dominant without letting Minnesota’s physical approach dictate his emotions.
DiVincenzo’s absence also tightens Minnesota’s rotation. The Wolves can still lean on Edwards, Reid, Rudy Gobert and their perimeter defenders, but losing a playoff-caliber guard removes another shooter and ball-mover from Chris Finch’s options.
Game 5 between the Timberwolves and Spurs is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. ET, or 7 p.m. CT. The game will air on NBC and stream on Peacock.
The stakes are straightforward. The winner takes a 3-2 series lead. The loser faces elimination in Game 6.
For Wembanyama, though, Game 5 is about more than availability. The suspension question has been answered. Conley and the Timberwolves have already said they wanted him on the floor.
Now the Spurs need Wembanyama to answer in the one way that matters: staying available, staying composed and making Minnesota deal with him for four full quarters.
Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA, MLB and NFL for Heavy.com. He also focuses on the trading card market. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson
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