Mike Conley Jr. watched from the bench as Minnesota rallied to beat San Antonio 114-109, tying the series 2-2 in Game 4.
Mike Conley Jr. was there for every tense moment, but he wasn’t on the floor to affect it. That part, he admitted, was what made Sunday’s Timberwolves win over the Spurs in Game 4 so difficult to handle.
Minnesota escaped San Antonio, 114-109, at Target Center to even their second-round series at 2-2. The final minutes were packed with nail-biting swings, yet the Timberwolves stayed composed enough to complete a come-from-behind performance.
Conley did not play in the fourth quarter, finishing with eight points and two assists in 11 minutes off the bench. For a veteran guard who has historically been the kind of player trusted to close games, sitting through the stretch underscored how different his role has become in recent years.
After the win. Conley described feeling anxious during crunch time in Game 4. explaining that while he was seated. he couldn’t shake the sense that he wanted to be involved.. In a video posted by Timberwolves reporter Andrew Dukowitz. Conley said he told Kyle Anderson he had “never been so nervous. ” and he admitted that watching the game late made him wish he could get in.
Conley also credited the message he received from Anderson. He said the adjustment was ultimately about trusting the group on the floor, and that Minnesota did exactly that when the game demanded steadiness.
Ayo Dosunmu became a key figure in that “trust the guys” moment. Conley pointed to Dosunmu’s ability to handle the pressure, describing how the newcomer stepped in and helped decide the outcome.
Dosunmu’s impact was reflected in the final possession drama as well as the scoreboard. With 13 seconds left, he made a wild catch to save the possession for Minnesota. He followed that with two free throws to seal the win.
Dosunmu also scored on an and-one play with 1:12 remaining, extending Minnesota’s advantage to seven points at a critical time. He finished with 10 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals as the Timberwolves protected their lead long enough to force the series back to parity.
Anthony Edwards delivered another high-end scoring burst when it mattered most, pouring in 16 of his team-leading 36 points in the fourth quarter. His late scoring helped Minnesota stay connected during the moments when San Antonio threatened to close the game.
Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid also contributed timely baskets, reinforcing that the Timberwolves’ late-game execution wasn’t reliant on a single star. Even with Edwards carrying the scoring charge late, those supporting buckets helped Minnesota maintain momentum as the final margin was protected.
For Conley. the game represented a familiar kind of tension. even if the circumstances were different from his typical finishing role.. Watching the close unfold from the bench appears to have been a genuine emotional test. and his own comments suggest he was uncomfortable with how little he could directly influence the outcome.
At the same time, Minnesota’s decision-making in Game 4 highlighted a deeper trust in rotation and in-game adjustments.. Conley’s admission about wishing he could get out there contrasts with the team’s result: the Timberwolves found answers through teammates on the floor rather than forcing the closing sequence through his typical late-game comfort.
With the series tied 2-2, the win sets up a defining swing in momentum.. San Antonio’s narrow loss at Target Center means neither side can afford another slow start or missed possessions. especially with the closing minutes featuring both momentum-saving plays and pressure-free-throw moments that can tilt a series in a single trip down the floor.
Mike Conley Jr. may not have been playing when the game’s final stretch demanded toughness, but his postgame confession captured what Game 4 felt like for him: anxious, helpless for stretches, and ultimately watching a group he had faith in pull through together.
Timberwolves vs Spurs Game 4 recap Mike Conley Jr. Ayo Dosunmu Anthony Edwards NBA playoffs