The Minnesota Timberwolves enter Friday night facing elimination against the San Antonio Spurs, but forward Jaden McDaniels said the group’s confidence has not changed despite falling behind 3-2 in the Western Conference semifinals.
Minnesota lost Game 5 in San Antonio, 126-97, and now returns to Target Center needing a win to force Game 7. Ahead of Game 6, McDaniels repeatedly pointed to urgency, togetherness and defensive discipline as the keys for the sixth-seeded Wolves.
“Just knowing that we’ve been in this position before and that we made our way out of this position,” McDaniels said Thursday. “It’s just another game and we can’t like we just got to play urgent and desperate.”
The 25-year-old has averaged 16.6 points and 6.2 rebounds during the 2026 playoffs while taking on major defensive assignments throughout the postseason. Minnesota will again rely heavily on him against a Spurs team led by Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox and rookie guard Stephon Castle.
San Antonio has pushed the pace throughout the series, and McDaniels said transition defense remains one of the biggest concerns entering Friday.
“They got a lot of guys that can get downhill themselves and like go in transition by themselves and then got a lot of shooters on the outside,” McDaniels said. “So just really being disciplined stopping their transition.”
Minnesota’s offense has also been inconsistent. The Timberwolves shot below 40% in the Game 5 loss and struggled to handle San Antonio’s pressure when the Spurs built separation early.
McDaniels, however, does not believe Minnesota needs a dramatic schematic change offensively.
“Not really,” he said when asked whether the Wolves need to shoot more threes. “I mean, we could play the way we always play all year and still win. It’s just we just got to find our spots.”
He added: “We know our spots where we need to attack from. I mean, I can’t tell y’all, but like we just got to find those spots more and then just play out of that.”
McDaniels has connected on three 3-pointers in two of the last three games, though he said he has not focused much on his shooting percentages.
“I ain’t even really been thinking about it,” McDaniels said. “So, I’m just basically just hooping and if it goes in, it goes in. If I miss, onto the next possession.”
One of the major adjustments in the series has involved how the Spurs defend Anthony Edwards. San Antonio has frequently sent extra defenders toward Edwards, forcing other Timberwolves players to make plays in space.
McDaniels said that responsibility starts with aggression and decision-making.
“I just got to be aggressive whenever I catch it wherever I catch it,” he said. “And then just knowing that it’s going to be like three on two on the other end and just making the right play.”
The Timberwolves also continue to lean on veteran guard Mike Conley during difficult stretches. McDaniels called Conley “our general” and credited the 38-year-old for stabilizing the team during playoff runs.
“He’s been through everything,” McDaniels said. “He our OG like he’s a vet so he knows all the right answers.”
Minnesota will again be without Donte DiVincenzo, who remains out after Achilles tendon repair surgery. The Spurs do not have any players listed on the injury report entering Game 6.
Despite the pressure of an elimination game, McDaniels said nerves are no longer part of his playoff experience.
“After like my first playoff series, like my second year, ever since then, it’s not no nerves or nothing,” McDaniels said. “It’s just another game. Just more at risk really.”
