{"id":735621,"date":"2026-05-16T05:03:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T05:03:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/735621\/"},"modified":"2026-05-16T05:03:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T05:03:14","slug":"spurs-reach-western-finals-as-pistons-stay-alive-in-nba-playoffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/735621\/","title":{"rendered":"Spurs reach Western finals as Pistons stay alive in NBA playoffs"},"content":{"rendered":"

The San Antonio Spurs<\/a> booked their ticket to the NBA Western Conference Finals with an emphatic 139-109 win over the Timberwolves<\/a> on Friday, as the resilient Detroit Pistons stayed alive in the East by defeating Cleveland.<\/p>\n

The Spurs arrived in Minnesota<\/a> with a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven semifinals, and led throughout a victory that sets up a tantalizing showdown series with the reigning champion and top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Stephon Castle<\/a> led Friday’s wire-to-wire win with 32 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 11-of-16 from the field, ably backed up by De’Aaron Fox<\/a> and French superstar Victor Wembanyama<\/a>, who added 21 and 19 apiece.<\/p>\n

It is the first time a revitalized San Antonio<\/a> has reached the conference finals since 2017. While the Thunder are heavy favorites for another championship, the dangerous Spurs enjoyed a 4-1 record against Oklahoma City<\/a> in the regular season.<\/p>\n

“We don’t really care about the outside noise. We knew that we were ahead of schedule probably in December of last year,” said Castle.<\/p>\n

“We know it’s going to be tough to knock them off, but I think we’re pretty confident we can do it,” he added.<\/p>\n

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The Spurs got off to a fantastic start, tearing ahead in the first quarter, dominant in the paint and led by a rampant Castle.<\/p>\n

Just when it was looking ugly for the Timberwolves, they fought back, their aggression spearheaded by star man Anthony Edwards<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But from a 74-61 halftime lead, the Spurs roared clear in the third quarter, successfully double-teaming Edwards to shut down Minnesota’s most potent threat.<\/p>\n

By the end of the third quarter San Antonio enjoyed an insurmountable 26-point lead, their 56 percent shooting accuracy far outstripping the opposition.<\/p>\n

At a timeout with eight minutes remaining, a 25-point deficit on the board, and both teams preparing to send out their benches for the remaining minutes, Edwards walked over to pre-emptively congratulate the Spurs on their resounding win.<\/p>\n

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– ‘Great win’ –<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Cade Cunningham scored 21 points as Detroit staved off elimination with a 115-94 victory over the Cavaliers in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.<\/p>\n

The top-seeded Pistons — trailing 3-2 in the best-of-seven series before Friday’s must-win game in Cleveland — produced a dazzling early onslaught to build a double-digit lead that proved the difference between the two sides.<\/p>\n

Cleveland, who had been unbeaten at their Rocket Arena home this postseason, will now have to win on the road in Sunday’s decisive game seven in Detroit to advance.<\/p>\n

Cunningham’s 21 points included five three-pointers, while at the defensive end, Detroit center Jalen Duren<\/a> delivered a dominant performance that included 11 rebounds, three blocks and a steal.<\/p>\n

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Cunningham was one of six Pistons players to finish in double figures, with Paul Reed<\/a> adding 17 off the bench, and Duren and Daniss Jenkins<\/a> scoring 15 points apiece.<\/p>\n

“We’re just playing our brand of basketball, coming out competing, trying to execute our system to the best of our ability, and we’re together,” Cunningham said afterward.<\/p>\n

“We stick together through everything, so it’s a great win for us.”<\/p>\n

James Harden<\/a> led Cleveland’s scoring with 23 points while Donovan Mitchell<\/a> was restricted to 18 points.<\/p>\n

The Cavs started Friday’s game brightly, opening up a six-point lead in the first quarter before the Pistons started firing to take a grip on the contest.<\/p>\n

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A devastating 22-4 run by Detroit saw the visitors accelerate into a commanding 39-27 lead in the second quarter and although\u00a0Cleveland closed the gap to 54-51 at halftime, the Pistons regrouped impressively to snuff out the Cavs’ threat with a 30-19 third quarter.<\/p>\n

That left Detroit leading by 14 points heading into the fourth and the result was never in doubt, with the Pistons maintaining a double-digit lead to close out victory.<\/p>\n

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