The Minnesota Timberwolves’ late-game execution came under the microscope after a 115-108 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night at Target Center in Game 3 of their second-round series.
Ayo Dosunmu described the decisive stretch in simple terms, pointing to specific Spurs actions that flipped a one-point game into separation.
From there, Minnesota struggled to regain control. “I think we played good defense down the stretch. We just didn’t close possessions out and they made some tough shots,” Dosunmu added.
The Spurs’ ability to punish second chances and convert under pressure aligned with the box score, where Victor Wembanyama finished with 39 points, 15 rebounds and 5 blocks while anchoring late-game possessions.
Despite the loss, Dosunmu remained focused on process rather than outcome variance. “Coming out of this game, I felt pretty good about the looks that we got,” he said. “Sometimes you get great looks and it just doesn’t fall, but that doesn’t mean you’re not generating great shots that are sustainable.”
He doubled down on that offensive identity. “We generated great shots. So to answer your question, yes,” he said when asked about drive-and-kick creation. “That means you have every opportunity to give yourself a chance to win the game.”
Defensively, he pointed to inconsistency as the key issue, especially during a 35-point third quarter from San Antonio. “I don’t think we had a good sense of urgency. I don’t think our point of attack was where it needed to be,” he said.
He also highlighted breakdowns after made baskets. “Too many times we made a shot and then they came right back and got a good look. So we got to do a better job of matching up and controlling the point of attack and not letting them just live off attacking us.”
Even so, he avoided overreaction. “It’s disappointing, but at the same time you can’t dwell on it too much because at the end of the day you got another game on Sunday,” he said.
Minnesota now faces a critical Game 4 at home with the series tilted 2-1 in favor of San Antonio. Dosunmu emphasized urgency without panic. “We have to be able to watch film tomorrow, understand what we did wrong and how we can be better,” he said.
The Timberwolves’ approach to ball pressure and transition defense also came up, especially against De’Aaron Fox. “You have to find a happy medium,” Dosunmu explained. “We did a good job on Fox, though. I believe he was like seven for nineteen. So we did a good job containing him. We just have to do a better job collectively of finishing possessions.”
He added that full-court pressure remains a core identity. “It’s about wearing them down and not letting them get to the offense fast.”
On the glass, Minnesota’s 30-second chance points allowed stood out, but Dosunmu pointed to effort and repetition rather than concern. “Naz did a great job going to the glass, got us some big time possessions. Rudy too. We just got to keep doing that.”
The series now shifts with momentum split and adjustments defining what comes next on Sunday.
