Victor Wembanyama delivered a dominant all-around performance as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 126-97, in Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinals series on Wednesday (PH time), moving one win away from the conference finals.

Wembanyama finished with 27 points, a playoff career-high 17 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks in just 33 minutes, anchoring a Spurs team that seized control early and never looked back.

The 22-year-old star set the tone in a historic opening quarter, erupting for 18 points and six rebounds. He became just the third player in the past 30 years to reach those marks in a single playoff quarter, joining LeBron James and Nikola Jokic.

San Antonio led 34-30 after the first period and steadily widened the gap, taking a 59-47 halftime advantage before breaking the game open in the second half.

The Spurs extended the lead to 91-73 entering the fourth and closed with a 29-point margin.

The performance marked a strong response from Wembanyama after his Game 4 ejection for an elbow to Naz Reid. The NBA opted not to suspend him, ruling the in-game ejection sufficient.

Balanced scoring supported Wembanyama’s effort. Keldon Johnson added 21 points and two steals, while De'Aaron Fox contributed 18 points, four rebounds and five assists. Rookie Stephon Castle chipped in 17 points, six assists and two steals.

Minnesota struggled to keep pace offensively and defensively as the Spurs shot efficiently and controlled the boards behind Wembanyama’s presence.

With the win, San Antonio takes a 3-2 series lead, putting pressure on Minnesota heading into a must-win Game 6.