The Western Conference semifinals return to Texas with the series tied 2-2. Second-seeded San Antonio hosts sixth-seeded Minnesota at Frost Bank Center, and the stakes are exactly where you want them in May. Bookmakers lean Spurs, but the margins have been small enough to keep both benches on alert.

What we learned from Game 4

Minnesota took Game 4 114-109 at Target Center and did it late. The Timberwolves trailed longer in the fourth but closed better, outscoring San Antonio 34-25 in the final period. They hit 10 threes to the Spurs’ 6 and were elite at the stripe with 20 of 22 free throws.

Anthony Edwards poured in 36 points with a Sofascore Rating of 8.1. Naz Reid added 15 points and 9 boards, while Rudy Gobert stacked 11 points and 13 rebounds. For San Antonio, Dylan Harper led the way off the bench with 24 points and the team’s top Sofascore Rating at 8.4. Victor Wembanyama was limited to 4 points and did not finish the game.

The numbers that could shape Game 5

– Glass work mattered. Minnesota won the rebounding battle 49-41, including a 34-28 edge on the defensive boards. San Antonio will want more one-and-done stops.
– Turnover game was split. The Wolves had more giveaways (17), yet the Spurs’ 13 steals kept them close. Live-ball pressure remains a San Antonio lever.
– Shot profile is a tension point. The Spurs shot 58 percent on twos, Minnesota 47 percent. Flip side, the Timberwolves won the arc 10 made threes to 6 and shot 90 percent at the line.
– Fourth-quarter execution told the story. Minnesota’s 52 percent field goal mark in Q4 versus San Antonio’s 36 percent was decisive. Late-game shot quality is the bellwether.

Odds and tip-off context

San Antonio enters as clear favorite on the full-time market at 13/50. The point spread sits at Spurs -9.5 at 10/11 on both sides. Markets suggest a home response, but recent games have been tight enough to keep this within a couple of late possessions.

Lineups are not confirmed yet on Sofascore and will drop before tip-off. Follow the matchup page for live scores, play-by-play and live Sofascore Ratings. With the series level and momentum swinging each night, Game 5 looks set to be about rebounding discipline, three-point variance and who finishes better.