Spurs reach Western finals with 139-109 win; Pistons force Game 7 vs Cavs

The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 139-109 on Friday, May 16, 2026, in Minnesota to clinch a place in the NBA Western Conference Finals. San Antonio entered Game 6 with a 3-2 lead and closed out the best-of-seven semifinal series 4-2. It is the Spurs’ first conference finals appearance since 2017, and they will face the top-seeded, reigning-champion Oklahoma City Thunder next after going 4-1 against them in the regular season.

Rookie guard Stephon Castle powered the Spurs with 32 points and 11 rebounds on 11-of-16 shooting. De’Aaron Fox added 21 points and Victor Wembanyama scored 19. San Antonio led wire to wire, taking a 74-61 advantage into halftime and stretching the margin to 26 by the end of the third quarter while shooting 56 percent from the field.

In the East, the Detroit Pistons stayed alive by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-94 to level their semifinal at 3-3. Cade Cunningham scored 21 points, and Detroit’s defense and bench depth carried the night to force a decisive Game 7 in Detroit on Sunday.

San Antonio closes out Minnesota 4-2

San Antonio set the tone early with paint dominance and efficient perimeter play, building a double-digit cushion that the Timberwolves could not meaningfully cut after halftime. Minnesota’s push, led by Anthony Edwards, briefly steadied the hosts before the Spurs’ third-quarter surge broke the game open.

Castle leads as Wembanyama steadies the series

Castle’s two-way impact headlined a balanced Spurs performance, complemented by Fox’s shot creation and Wembanyama’s scoring and rim protection. After being ejected from Game 4 for a flagrant elbow on Naz Reid, Wembanyama said he focused on avoiding reaction plays and “had to beat them by playing basketball.” The French star stayed composed as San Antonio’s defense repeatedly sent help at Edwards to blunt Minnesota’s primary threat.

Thunder next; regular-season edge favors Spurs

The win sets up a conference finals against top-seeded Oklahoma City, the defending champions. While the Thunder are widely viewed as favorites, San Antonio held a 4-1 edge in the head-to-head during the regular season. The matchup will test the Spurs’ young core against a deeper, playoff-tested opponent.

Pistons force decider in Detroit

Detroit opened with a blistering stretch to seize control in Cleveland, then answered every Cavaliers run after halftime. The Pistons led 54-51 at the break and put the game out of reach with a 30-19 third quarter, maintaining poise in a building where Cleveland had been unbeaten this postseason.

Cunningham and supporting cast deliver

Cunningham finished with 21 points, including five three-pointers, and center Jalen Duren anchored the interior with 11 rebounds, three blocks and a steal. Detroit placed six players in double figures: Paul Reed added 17 off the bench, and Duren and Daniss Jenkins chipped in 15 apiece as the visitors controlled the glass and pace.

Cavaliers face road test in Game 7

James Harden led Cleveland with 23 points, while Donovan Mitchell was held to 18. The Cavaliers must now win on the road on Sunday to advance, with the series shifting to Detroit for a one-game decider.

Attention now turns to scheduling and adjustments: the Spurs await dates for their series against the Thunder, while the Pistons and Cavaliers prepare for a win-or-go-home Game 7 that will decide the East finalist.