Four contests into their second-round NBA Playoff series, the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves have produced one of the most evenly contested matchups of the postseason. With the series locked at two wins apiece, Game 5 tips off Tuesday, May 12, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, with San Antonio hosting and both sides fully aware that a victory on Tuesday night means one win away from advancing.
A Series Defined by Margins - and One Outlier
The numbers tell a clear story. Game 1 went to Minnesota by two points. Game 3 went to San Antonio by seven. Game 4 went to Minnesota by five. Only Game 2 broke from this pattern, when San Antonio pulled away by 38 points in a result that looked like it belonged to a different series entirely. Strip that anomaly out, and the remaining three completed contests have been decided by a combined 14 points across more than 140 minutes of action. That kind of sustained closeness reflects genuine competitive parity - neither side has been able to assert consistent dominance, and each has shown the capacity to win on the road.
Where and How to Watch Game 5
The broadcast home for Game 5 is NBC, which means viewers have multiple paths to the action. For those relying on a live TV streaming service, DIRECTV's MySports plan represents a strong option at $65 per month following a five-day free trial. That package includes NBC (availability depends on local market), ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS, NBA TV, and a range of other channels relevant to sports programming. The plan also includes a complimentary ESPN Unlimited subscription, and an optional MyHome Team add-on is available for $20 per month to access regional sports networks.
Because Game 5 airs on NBC specifically, Peacock also provides a direct streaming path. Peacock Premium, the entry-level paid tier, runs $11 per month. Peacock Premium Plus, which adds the ability to stream a local NBC feed in all 210 markets, is available for $17 per month. For viewers who only need access to this particular broadcast, a Peacock subscription may be the most straightforward and cost-efficient route.
Other live TV streaming services that carry NBC - including Fubo - are also viable options. Fubo's free trial period varies and is not consistently published in advance, but the company has offered trials ranging from one to seven days depending on timing and eligibility.
Watching From Outside Your Home Market
Viewers who are traveling and cannot access their usual streaming setup can use a VPN to route their connection through a domestic server, effectively restoring access to their subscribed services. This approach is legal and widely used. An active subscription to a qualifying streaming service remains a requirement - a VPN alone does not grant access to content.
ExpressVPN is a well-regarded option at approximately $5 per month, backed by a 30-day refund policy and servers across more than 100 countries. For those prioritizing cost, Surfshark starts at $2.50 per month. NordVPN, positioned toward the security-conscious user, begins at $3.09 per month. Proton VPN offers a functional free tier for those unwilling to commit to a paid plan.
Series Schedule Through a Potential Game 7
Should the series extend beyond Tuesday, the remaining schedule is as follows:
- Game 5 - Tuesday, May 12, 8 p.m. ET: Timberwolves at Spurs (NBC)
- Game 6 - Friday, May 15, TBA: Spurs at Timberwolves
- Game 7 - Sunday, May 17, TBA: Timberwolves at Spurs (if necessary)
A decisive seventh contest would return to San Antonio, giving the Spurs a home advantage in the series' final act if it reaches that point. For now, however, the immediate focus rests on Tuesday - a night that will shift significant momentum toward whichever side claims the win.
