RealGM Basketball Wiretap

17 May 2026

• Wolves Pursuing Tim Connelly Contract Extension

  The Minnesota Timberwolves are moving to retain president of basketball operations Tim Connelly on a contract extension, team sources told The Athletic. Connelly enters the final year of his current deal following Minnesota's second-round exit against the San Antonio Spurs.

  Despite being considered a candidate for the top basketball operations role in Dallas, there were no actual discussions between Connelly and the Mavericks before the franchise hired Masai Ujiri, team sources said.

  General manager Matt Lloyd, who works directly under Connelly, came close to departing as well. Lloyd interviewed as a finalist for the Chicago Bulls' lead executive position but was passed over when the Bulls hired Bryson Graham from Atlanta.

  Lloyd's decision to remain with Minnesota was welcomed throughout the organization. He is a well-regarded figure on both the basketball and business sides of the operation, and his continued presence has lifted the spirits of staff across departments.

  Connelly and Lloyd are widely respected throughout the league. Their partnership has produced blockbuster trades for Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and Ayo Dosunmu, along with smaller but impactful acquisitions of Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

  Chris Finch has two years remaining on his contract and will return for a sixth full season. Minnesota's front office is expected to return intact, a meaningful source of organizational continuity as the Wolves face a challenging offseason with significant roster decisions ahead.

  Connelly will enter extension talks with ownership firmly behind him despite three consecutive second-round exits and a widening gap in the Western Conference standings.

• Anthony Edwards Defers To Wolves' Management On Closing Gap With Spurs, Thunder

  Anthony Edwards had no clear answer Friday when asked how the Minnesota Timberwolves can close the distance between themselves and the Western Conference's two elite teams, the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. The question, posed after a 139-109 Game 6 loss to San Antonio, landed without a clean response.

  "I don't know man," said Edwards when asked what needs to happen for the Wolves to close the gap on the Spurs and Thunder. "I don't think that's a question for me."

  Minnesota finished the season 13 wins behind second-seeded San Antonio and 15 behind defending champion Oklahoma City. Three of the Wolves' four losses to the Spurs came by margins of 38, 29 and 30 points.

  Edwards played through injuries to both knees throughout the series, performing at roughly 70 percent of his normal athleticism by the team's own assessment. He scored 24 points in the finale despite the physical limitations.

  Chris Finch was more direct in framing what the franchise must confront this offseason.

  "You either gotta be a problem or have a solution," said Finch. "You have to be built in a way that troubles your opponent with something they don't have or have something to counter what they do have."

  Edwards turns 25 in August and enters his prime. Minnesota's front office faces urgent decisions about how to upgrade the supporting cast around him before the window narrows further.

  "I wasn't expecting to be going home this early," Edwards said, "so I haven't thought about what I'm going to add to my game."

• Naz Reid Says Wolves Need To Be 'Less Moody, More Selfless'

  In the wake of the Minnesota Timberwolves loss to the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the NBA Playoffs, Naz Reid was asked what his team needs to do to catch the Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Reid was very direct in his answer for how the Wolves run down the Western Conference finalists.

  "Probably just the moodiness. You look at both of those teams and they're playing for one another, they're excited to be on the floor with one another, they're a team where they're selfless... I think we have more than enough talent... But just being less moody. I think that's just the name of the game for us, just being less moody and more selfless," Reed said.

  Reid was one of several Timberwolves to directly address chemistry issues the team had this season. Minnesota star Anthony Edwards also said that his team didn't build championship habits throughout the regular season.

• Mike Conley Plans To Keep Playing; Bones Hyland Would Like To Stay With Wolves

  Veteran point guard Mike Conley is shrugging off retirement talk for at least one more year. Conley said that his play in the playoffs proved to him that he can still play. Now, Conley would like to play in a 20th NBA season next season.

  Minnesota Timberwolves backcourt mate Bones Hyland said that he hopes to return to team next season. After bouncing around a bit, Hyland feels like he's found a home in Minnesota.

  "I feel like this is where I belong. I definitely want to come back," Hyland said.

• Minnesota Expected To Prioritize Re-Signing Ayo Dosunmu

  The Minnesota Timberwolves were ecstatic when they added Ayo Dosunmu ahead of the trade deadline. Dosunmu proved to a great fit along with Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo in the Wolves backcourt.

  This offseason, the Timberwolves are expected to prioritize re-signing Dosunmu this offseason. With DiVincenzo expected to miss most, if not all, of next season after tearing his Achilles' tendon in the playoffs, keeping Dosunmu in the fold takes on added importance.

  Minnesota could also see other movement in their backcourt. Mike Conley may retire after 19 NBA seasons. Bones Hyland is also a free agent and is coming off a bounce-back season that may have gotten his NBA career back on track. Terrence Shannon Jr. is expected to feature in the backcourt rotation next season, but he's not the ballhandler that Dosunmu is.

• Wolves Likely To Re-Engage On Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade

  In the wake of falling the second round of the playoffs to the San Antonio Spurs, the Minnesota Timberwolves are expected to look at upgrading their roster. The Wolves are looking to put themselves on the level of the Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder as contenders in the Western Conference.

  One thing Minnesota may look into is re-engaging on trade talks for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Timberwolves and Bucks reportedly discussed a potential Antetokounmpo earlier this year, but thing never got very far. Milwaukee is expected to more seriously entertain offers for the star forward this offseason.

  The Wolves have at least two first-round draft picks they could offer in trade for Antetokounmpo. Minnesota also has some large salaries attached to frontcourt players that they could move in a deal.

• How To Watch Timberwolves Vs Spurs West Semifinals Game 6: Live Stream, TV Channel, Predictions

  How to watch Spurs vs. Timberwolves Game 6

  Friday's Game 6 will be broadcast on Prime Video.

  Category	Details
  Date	Friday, May 15, 2026
  Tip-Off Time	9:30 PM ET / 8:30 PM CT
  Live Stream	Prime Video
  Venue	Target Center, Minneapolis, MN

  The Western Conference Semifinals shift back to Minneapolis this Friday, May 15, as the Minnesota Timberwolves face a "win or go home" scenario in Game 6 against the San Antonio Spurs. Following a commanding 126-97 Spurs victory on Tuesday night, San Antonio holds a 3-2 series lead and is just one win away from their first conference finals appearance since 2017. Minnesota, fueled by a raucous Target Center crowd, must protect home court to force a decisive Game 7. Catch every high-stakes moment live on Prime Video.

  Game 5 was a masterclass by Victor Wembanyama, who responded to his Game 4 ejection with a monster line of 27 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 blocks. The Spurs' depth was on full display as Keldon Johnson poured in 21 points off the bench and De'Aaron Fox added 18. Minnesota struggled to find their offensive rhythm, with Anthony Edwards held to 20 points while continuing to play through a knee bone bruise. To stay alive, the Timberwolves will need Julius Randle (17 points, 10 rebounds in Game 5) and Ayo Dosunmu to step up their scoring alongside Edwards. Witness the tactical battle live on Prime Video.

  The spotlight remains on the battle of the bigs. San Antonio's 7-foot-4 superstar has been a matchup nightmare, but Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid have proven they can disrupt the Spurs' rhythm when they control the paint. Minnesota will also look for a bounce-back night from Jaden McDaniels, whose defensive versatility is vital in slowing down Fox and rookie Stephon Castle. Expect a championship-level intensity as the Timberwolves fight for survival. Catch the action streaming live on Prime Video.

  San Antonio's transition efficiency and Minnesota's ability to dominate the offensive glass will be the deciding factors in Game 6. You can witness this Western Conference semifinal showdown live on Prime Video.

  Spurs vs. Timberwolves Game 6 Odds & Prediction

  The Spurs enter Game 6 as road favorites following their dominant 29-point victory in Game 5. Oddsmakers believe San Antonio's momentum and Wembanyama's historic form give them the edge to close out the series tonight.

  Betting Line	Spurs -4.5
  Over/Under	218.5
  Moneyline	SAS -190 | MIN +160

  Prediction: Expect a desperate effort from Minnesota in front of their home fans. While Wembanyama remains the ultimate X-factor, Anthony Edwards has a history of rising to the occasion in elimination games. If Gobert and Reid can win the rebounding battle, the Wolves should squeeze out a narrow victory to force Game 7. Final Score: Timberwolves 104, Spurs 101.

  Series Standouts (Game 5 Stats)

  The matchup between Victor Wembanyama and the Timberwolves' frontcourt continues to define this high-stakes series.

  Spurs Standouts (Game 5)	Points	Assists	Rebounds	Blocks
  Victor Wembanyama (C)	27	5	17	3
  Keldon Johnson (F)	21	0	2	1

  The Timberwolves rely on the relentless scoring of Anthony Edwards and the interior toughness of Julius Randle.

  Timberwolves Standouts (Game 5)	Points	Rebounds	Assists	Steals
  Anthony Edwards (G)	20	2	2	0
  Julius Randle (F)	17	10	1	0

  Stream the NBA Playoffs on Prime Video

  Prime Video is the ultimate destination for NBA fans this postseason. Don't miss a single highlight as the Spurs and Timberwolves battle for Western Conference supremacy with a seamless streaming experience.

  Frequently Asked Questions

  What is the current series score?
  The San Antonio Spurs lead the best-of-seven series 3-2 following their win in Game 5.

  When is Spurs vs. Timberwolves Game 6?
  Game 6 is scheduled for tonight, Friday, May 15, at the Target Center in Minneapolis, with tip-of at 9:30 PM ET.

  Where can I stream Game 6?
  You can watch the game live on Prime Video with an active subscription.

  This article contains affiliate links. When you purchase through the links provided, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Restrictions may apply.

• Spurs-Timberwolves Game 4 Averages 7.9M Viewers

  Sunday's Game 4 between the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves averaged 7.9 million viewers across Nielsen and Adobe Analytics.

  It is the second most-watched game in the playoffs, only trailing Game 7 between the Sixers and Celtics.

  Friday's Game 3 averaged 5.25 million viewers on Prime Video, making it the largest audience for the streamer this season.

  Game 2 of the series averaged 5.2 million viewers on ESPN, the most-watched game of the playoffs on the cable network.

  Saturday's matchup between the Pistons and Cavs averaged 4.9 million viewers on NBC, down 8% from last year.

• Victor Wembanyama Finishes With 27 Points, 17 Rebounds In Spurs' Game 5 Win

  The San Antonio Spurs defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 126-97 in Game 5 on Tuesday night to take a 3-2 series lead.

  Victor Wembanyama finished with 27 points, 17 rebounds, and three blocks, becoming the third-youngest player in NBA history to post that stat line in a playoff game.

  "I was fresh, feeling good," Wembanyama said. "Honestly, it's hard to tell. It was just Game 5. Obviously, I'm going to be excited [and] to have butterflies. So, excitement is not something abnormal at this point in the playoffs."

  Keldon Johnson had 21 points, with De'Aaron Fox adding 18 points.

  Anthony Edwards finished with 20 points for the Timberwolves, who trailed by as much as 18 points in the first half.

  The Spurs held their opponents to under 100 points for the fifth time in ten playoff games.

  "I thought we did a good job of having resistance early in the clock," Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. "They've shown as the series has gone on, they've tried to play faster at times and they're tough when they get downhill. I think when we've had better starting spots, more connectivity at the start of possessions, I think it's really helped us be on a string and be organized and connected defensively."

  Game 6 takes place on Friday in Minneapolis with the Spurs favored by 4.5 points to close out the series.

• Mitch Johnson Says Victor Wembanyama Has To 'Protect Himself'

  San Antonio Spurs coach Mitch Johnson took issue with the officials ejecting Victor Wembanyama during his team's Game 4 loss at the Minnesota Timberwolves. Wembanyama was ejected when the officials upgraded a foul to a Flagrant 2 foul for the Spurs big man hitting Naz Reid in the face/neck with an elbow. Johnson took issue with the ejection in part because how physical the Wolves were being with the Spurs star.

  "It's getting to a point that if the people that are in charge of controlling the game and protecting the physicality of the game don't do that, then at some point he's going to have to protect himself," Johnson said about Wembanyama reacting to opponents' physicality.

  San Antonio's head coach also said it "would be ridiculous" if Wembanyama was suspended for the incident.

  "There was no intent," Johnson said of Wembanyama foul on Reid.