Spurs vs Timberwolves Prediction & Odds (Spurs Shorthanded Without Wembanyama in Key Western Conference Clash on December 1)

The San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves meet tonight in Minneapolis in a matchup that quietly says a lot about the early shape of the Western Conference. The Spurs arrive at Target Center at 13–5, sitting fifth in the West, while the Timberwolves are 11–8 and just behind them in sixth, turning this December 1 clash into a measuring stick for both emerging contenders.

San Antonio’s rise has been driven by a revamped core and a faster, more efficient offense. The Spurs are averaging 119.2 points per game on 49 percent shooting, ranking among the league’s most efficient attacks while also controlling the glass at 45.5 rebounds per night. They’ve won seven of their last ten and come in riding a two-game win streak after a dramatic NBA Cup victory over Denver in which Devin Vassell exploded for 35 points and the team piled up 30 assists.

The twist for San Antonio is health. Rookie guard Stephon Castle and point guard Jordan McLaughlin are both ruled out, but the headline absence is star big man Victor Wembanyama, listed as out until at least December 2. Without their centerpiece, the Spurs lean heavily on De’Aaron Fox’s playmaking and a committee of scorers around the perimeter to maintain their pace-and-space identity.

Minnesota, by contrast, is as close to full strength as it has been all season, with no players listed on the injury report heading into tipoff. The Timberwolves are powered by Anthony Edwards, who is averaging roughly 28 points per game on efficient shooting, and they’ve quietly become one of the league’s more balanced teams. They’re scoring 118.8 points per night, grabbing more than 44 rebounds, and forcing nearly nine steals per game, reflecting a defense that thrives on pressure and transition chances.

Stylistically, tonight’s game pits the Spurs’ ball movement and shot-making against Minnesota’s physicality and athleticism on the wings. San Antonio shoots a strong 48.8 percent from the field and over 36 percent from deep, but the Timberwolves answer with 38.2 percent three-point shooting of their own and a reputation for turning live-ball turnovers into quick strikes. In a tight Western race, a December meeting might feel routine, yet for both teams, a win over a neighboring seed could matter when the playoff picture crystallizes in the spring.