Even with almost identical records and playoff positions, the feelings with which Minnesota and San Antonio have started this season are quite different. At the Timberwolves, even with Anthony Edwards injured, optimism and confidence seem to reign; with Mitch Johnson’s side, by contrast, there is a sense that something just isn’t clicking and that, against direct rivals, they are not performing as they did last year. Will they begin to turn that around today?
Spurs vs Timberwolves date and time
Date: 31 October 2026, in the early hours of 1 November in European time zones.
Time: These are the Spurs vs Timberwolves start times by time zone.
| United Kingdom | 00:00 |
| Dominican Republic, USA (Boston, New York and Miami), Puerto Rico and Venezuela | 20:00 |
| Mexico (central), USA (Texas and Chicago), El Salvador, Costa Rica and Nicaragua | 19:00 |
| Mexico (Pacific) and USA (Los Angeles) | 17:00 |
| Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay | 21:00 |
| Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Panama | 19:00 |
Venue: T&T Center (San Antonio, Texas)
Spurs vs Timberwolves starting fives
Everything points to both teams repeating the line-ups from their most recent games, pending the availability of Tobias Harris or Anthony Edwards.
| Spurs | Timberwolves |
| De’Aaron Fox | LaMelo Ball |
| Stephon Castle | Ayo Dosunmu |
| Dylan Harper | Jaden McDaniels |
| Devin Vassell | Jonathan Kuminga |
| Victor Wembanyama | Rudy Gobert |
Spurs vs Timberwolves: best bet
The schedule makes this a gentler contest for San Antonio than for Minnesota. Even if last night’s game was relatively comfortable, arriving on the second night of a back to back and playing away from home makes it an uphill task for the Timberwolves, making the Texans favourites to take the win.
Latest Spurs news: injuries and form
With three consecutive wins, the San Antonio Spurs have begun to steady the ship after a start full of doubts. The defeats to OKC and the Rockets made the Texans reconsider their supposed status as big contenders in the West, but the latest wins have calmed the waters a little and restored some normality. But only to a certain extent.
Those wins have not exactly come against the most fearsome opponents. Perhaps the first one did, against a Mavericks side who have proved over the days to be more than solid, but Utah and Sacramento are still not a demanding yardstick for a team aiming to fight for the title. But, even without Anthony Edwards, these Timberwolves are starting to be one. Perhaps today is the day to see whether the Spurs have truly rediscovered their rhythm.
Player to watch: Victor Wembanyama
Wemby has taken his team’s needs very seriously. Questioned after his poor game against Oklahoma and the negative protagonist of the play that decided the defeat to Houston, the Frenchman has stepped up in recent games, averaging 29.3 points and 10.3 rebounds and looking like an unstoppable force in the paint again. And today he will have to do it once more against his compatriot Rudy Gobert.
Latest Timberwolves news: injuries and form
The initial euphoria hasn’t taken long to deflate a little. Anthony Edwards’ injury has changed Minnesota’s outlook for the coming months, which now look more like a matter of survival while waiting to be back at 100% than an attempt to stake a claim, as their explosive start to the regular season had been. Or, at least, that is how it seems.
The comfortable win over the Clippers, whom they beat by 29 points, showed that Chris Finch’s side still have enough firepower to pick up wins against the bottom and middle of the table, but it is harder to imagine them keeping up their good pace against the league’s most powerful opponents. Today, however, they have the chance to challenge that premise. If they do, perhaps these weeks without their star can be approached with more optimism.
Player to watch: LaMelo Ball
It took LaMelo barely five games with his new team to find himself the main offensive reference again. Without Edwards alongside him, the former Hornets man had to take the reins, and although he struggled to do so against the Warriors, he responded much better in last night’s game against the Clippers, scoring 24 points. Will he respond in the same way against a defence as suffocating as San Antonio’s?
Spurs vs Timberwolves: head-to-head record
Recent regular-season history clearly favours the Timberwolves, who have won five of the last six meetings and nine of the last 12. However, last season’s playoff series, which ended 4-2 to San Antonio, changes the dynamic quite a bit.
Spurs vs Timberwolves predictions
Over 20 points for McDaniels. Against a small line-up like the Spurs’, the forward has a good chance to look dominant.
Under 220 points. San Antonio’s offensive problems and Minnesota’s fatigue could make this a low-scoring game.
Over 4 three-pointers for LaMelo. The point guard is obliged to be his side’s offensive reference and, after hitting six threes against the Clippers, he can extend his good form today.
Where to watch Spurs vs Timberwolves
The game between the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves is available in the UK through an NBA League Pass subscription.
