yahoo - 5/6/2026 7:16:47 PM - GMT (+2 )
Maybe the Minnesota Timberwolves are playing mind games with Victor Wembanyama. Or maybe they're right that the record number of blocks the San Antonio Spurs superstar was credited with during Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals weren't quite what they seemed. Maybe this is simply how the first real playoff obstacle of Wembanyama's career will manifest itself.
It's nonetheless become one of the talking points during the 2026 NBA playoffs, with Game 2 between the Timberwolves and Spurs set for Wednesday, May 6. Wembanyama is coming off a historic triple-double performance in which he set the NBA playoff record with 12 blocks (to go along with 11 points and 15 rebounds) in a losing effort.
But Wembanyama left disappointed by his offensive output and then Minnesota's coach and players added some salt to the wound by clapping back at the legitimacy of some of Wembanyama's blocks. Coach Chris Finch argued in the aftermath of Game 1 that at least four of Wembanyama's swats should have been called goaltending. Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, who is considered Wembanyama's mentor, agreed.
"To me, it's a little alarming they weren't called," Finch told reporters ahead of Game 2.
So are the Timberwolves right? Were all of Wembanyama's 12 blocks in Game 1 legitimate?
USA TODAY Sports went back and watched the film of every block Wembanyama was credited with to see if Finch has a point. The answer was somewhere in between, with an awesome display of shot-blocking, one blatant missed goaltending and a few borderline calls that are now being used to stoke a postseason narrative.
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Were all of Victor Wembanyama blocks vs. Timberwolves legitimate?Note: USA TODAY Sports watched replays of all 12 blocks Wembanyama was credited with during Game 1 against the Timberwolves to judge whether the block was legal or should have been called a goaltend, as well as if there was potential for a foul to be called on the play.
Victor Wembanyama's first block- Time: 11:38 left in 1st quarter
- What happened: Timberwolves guard Terrance Shannon Jr. drove to the basket on the first possession of Game 1 and Wembanyama slid over to block his layup attempt against the backboard.
- Was it a block: Yes, this appears to have been correctly called a block. Wembanyama's hand tapped the ball before it reached the backboard. Watch here to judge for yourself.
- Time: 11:20 left in 1st quarter
- What happened: Shannon dribbled past Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox in transition on Minnesota's second possession of Game 1 and attempted a layup. Wembanyama swooped in from behind for a block.
- Was it a block: No, this block seems to have been called incorrectly after several viewings of the replay. The ball appears to reach the backboard before Wembanyama blocks the layup attempt. Watch here to judge for yourself.
Victor Wembanyama's third blockWEMBY BLOCK.
— NBA (@NBA) May 5, 2026
GOBERT BLOCK.
WEMBY BLOCK.
WHAT A START TO GAME 1 IN SAN ANTONIO ‼️ pic.twitter.com/QNDiFg89Tr
- Time: 9:34 left in 1st quarter
- What happened: Rudy Gobert caught a pocket pass from Mike Conley rolling to the basket and attempted a running left-handed layup near the rim that Wembanyama blocked.
- Was it a block: Yes, but it's debatable. There's an argument based on multiple angles of the replay that Wembanyama also fouled Gobert on the play. However, Wembanyama's hand hit Gobert's arm after he blocked his shot. Watch here to judge for yourself.
Victor Wembanyama's fourth blockThis is why you shouldn’t believe everything you see.
— Wemby Alien Era (@WembyAlienEra) May 5, 2026
The below tweet/photo is one of many that claims Wemby’s 3rd block was actually a foul.
If you watch the replay and slow it down you can see Wemby blocks Gobert’s shot first.
Don’t discredit greatness.#GoSpursGo#PorVidahttps://t.co/POcrSPBilMpic.twitter.com/PbRKmLOBeH
- Time: 9:27 left in 2nd quarter
- What happened: Timberwolves forward Naz Reid had the ball in the low block while being defended by Spurs guard Dylan Harper. Reid spins towards the middle of the paint, then pivots back toward the low block and attempted a running bank shot. Wembanyama came from the other side of the paint to swat the shot against the backboard with the ball nearly on its way down.
- Was it a block: Yes, because it was called that way on the floor and no replay angle has definitively shown the ball was on its way down. But this was close to a goaltend. Watch it here to judge for yourself.
- Time: 8:02 left in 2nd quarter
- What happened: Timberwolves forward Julius Randle rebounded his own miss, pump-faked twice and then attempted a left-handed putback layup near the basket only to have the shot blocked by Wembanyama to force a shot clock violation.
- Was it a block: Yes. Though there might have been some contact on the play, Wembanyama appeared to maintain his verticality because he hardly jumped off the floor. Watch it here to judge for yourself.
- Time: 1:30 left in 2nd quarter
- What happened: Gobert received a pass from Timberwolves teammate Jaylen Clark in the lane, dribbled once to his left to initially evade Wembanyama and then came to a jump stop. But as Gobert rose for a shot attempt near the rim, Wembanyama came in from behind to block the ball out of bounds.
- Was it a block: Yes, but there does appear to be some contact made with Gobert by either Wembanyama or Spurs teammate Julian Champagnie. Watch it here to judge for yourself.
- Time: 23 seconds left in 2nd quarter
- What happened: Wembanyama's final block of the first half occurred when Reid drove into the paint while being defended by Spurs guard Julian Champagnie. Wembanyama came from the weak side to swat Reid's shot attempt.
- Was it a block: Yes, this was a clean block and there doesn't seem to be any doubt Wembanyama blocked the ball on its way up. Watch it here to judge for yourself.
- Time: 8 minutes left in 3rd quarter
- What happened: Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels spun past Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox after posting him up in the paint and getting him in the air with a pump fake. But Wembanyama's first block of the third quarter occurred when he came to help and swatted a left-handed layup attempt by McDaniels.
- Was it a block: Yes. This appeared to be a clean block in which Wembanyama did not make contact with McDaniels and blocked the ball on its way up before it reached the backboard. Watch it here to judge for yourself.
- Time: 3:22 left in 3rd quarter
- What happened: Anthony Edwards got Wembanyama off his feet with a pump fake in the corner, but missed his driving layup attempt along the baseline. Randle got the offensive rebound, but Wembanyama came in from Randle's right and blocked his putback attempt.
- Was it a block: Yes, this looked like a clean block by Wembanyama. Watch it here to judge for yourself.
- Time: 2:54 left in 3rd quarter
- What happened: Timberwolves guard Bones Hyland drove past Spurs guard Devin Vassell and Wembanyama came in from his help defense position on Reid in the corner to block Hyland's layup attempt.
- Was it a block: Yes, although the Timberwolves could argue Vassell might have made slight contact with Hyland's body. Wembanyama actually might have blocked the same shot with both hands. Watch it here to judge for yourself.
Victor Wembanyama's 11th blockWemby blocked the shot twice, with BOTH hands 😭 pic.twitter.com/raqmvTkBQO
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) May 5, 2026
- Time: 8:26 left in 4th quarter
- What happened: Wembanyama officially set the new NBA playoff record for blocks when Edwards knifed through Champagnie and Spurs guard Stephon Castle for a driving finger roll attempt. Wembanyama came from the weak side to block the shot off the backboard and ignite the San Antonio fastbreak
- Was it a block: Yes, probably. But this is a really close call based on the available replay angles. It's hard to tell if Wembanyama blocked Edwards' shot attempt before it reached the backboard. Watch it here to judge for yourself.
Victor Wembanyama's 12th blockVictor Wembanyama blocks Anthony Edwards for his 11th block of the night, and Fox with the layup at the other end. Wolves timeout.
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) May 5, 2026
With replays.
8 Points, 11 Rebounds, 5 Assists, and 11 blocks for Wemby. pic.twitter.com/F0hpVyTX9s
- Time: 4:46 left in 4th quarter
- What happened: Shannon drove past Vassell into the lane and attempted a running left-handed floater. Wembanyama came over from the weak side to block the shot against the backboard.
- Was it a block: Yes, but Minnesota might argue for goaltending. Wembanyama clearly blocks the ball before it reaches the backboard, but there is a chance Shannon's shot had reached its apex. But it's awfully close even in slow motion and hard to fault the call on the floor. Watch it here to judge for yourself.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: We judged if Victor Wembanyama's 12 blocks vs. Timberwolves were legit
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