Victor Wembanyama is the story. He always is. And in Game 5, he wrote the opening chapter with a vengeance.

Still fired up from his Game 4 ejection, the Spurs' phenom set the tone from the opening tip, pouring in 16 of San Antonio's first 21 points as they raced to a 21-9 lead. By the end of the first quarter, Wembanyama had 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 three-pointers on 6-of-8 shooting. It was a statement. And his teammates followed.

But here's what made this win different: depth.

Every time the Timberwolves tried to claw back, a different Spur stepped up. Stephon Castle answered one run. Keldon Johnson answered another. Rookie Dylan Harper delivered a highlight-reel board and layup against a veteran defender. As coach Mitch Johnson put it, "We played with the appropriate fear, discipline, execution, physicality, and poise. And we had it from an array of people tonight."

For Minnesota, Anthony Edwards provided the spark (20 points), but no one else consistently rose to the occasion. Julius Randle struggled again, posting 17 points on 17 shots. The contrast was stark.

By the fourth quarter, the Spurs had pulled away for a commanding 126-97 victory, taking a 3-2 series lead and inching closer to the Western Conference Finals.

Wembanyama finished with 27 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 blocks. But the numbers only tell part of the story. The Spurs dominated the paint 68-36, shot 52.8% from the field, and held Minnesota to just 47.4% shooting in the paint. That's the kind of physicality that wins playoff games.

San Antonio also got 21 points from Johnson off the bench, 18 from De'Aaron Fox, and 17 from Castle. It was a team win built on one superstar's fire and a supporting cast that refused to let the moment be too big.

One win away. And Wembanyama has set the tone.