Anthony Edwards’ late heroics helped Minnesota overcome shaky stretches and tie the Spurs series 2-2 after Victor Wembanyama’s ejection.
Victor Wembanyama’s night ended early and, for Minnesota, that turning point finally became momentum.
The Timberwolves finished strong to draw level in their series with the San Antonio Spurs. winning after Wembanyama was ejected following a Flagrant 2 foul.. Naz Reid absorbed the damaging moment first. taking an elbow to the neck from Wembanyama in the late stages. before the Wolves controlled the final stretch with Anthony Edwards leading the way.
Edwards delivered a key sequence to swing the game.. He hit a 27-foot shot to pull Minnesota within 94-91. then shouted toward the crowd as San Antonio called a quick timeout in the search for answers down the stretch.. His catch-and-shoot three from the wing with 5:12 remaining put the Timberwolves ahead 98-97 for the first time since midway through the third quarter.
From there, the absence of Wembanyama opened the door for Minnesota’s big men.. With Wembanyama no longer patrolling the paint. Rudy Gobert produced the kind of inside punctuation the Wolves needed. scoring a three-point play with 3:02 left off a slick feed from Reid.. Gobert then powered to a dunk for a 107-101 lead with 1:56 remaining, finishing off a pass from Julius Randle.. Gobert closed with 11 points and 13 rebounds, a double impact that mattered as the game tightened.
Reid also kept pressure on as the finish approached.. His follow shot with 40 seconds left pushed Minnesota’s advantage to seven, but San Antonio did not disappear.. Dylan Harper responded with a stretch that featured a rebound. a drawn foul. a steal. and two free throws that helped pull the Spurs within three.
The closing minutes ultimately belonged to Minnesota’s execution from the line. Ayo Dosunmu converted two foul shots with 9.8 seconds remaining to put the result beyond reach and ensure the series was tied at two games apiece.
San Antonio now turns to the next chapter at home, with Game 5 set for Tuesday. Wembanyama’s availability remains a league decision after the Flagrant 2 foul and automatic ejection for excessive contact on Reid, leaving his status in limbo heading into the critical matchup.
For the Spurs, the numbers came from multiple guards and a steady hand after Wembanyama’s departure.. Harper and De’Aaron Fox each scored 24 points, while Stephon Castle added 20.. With the seven-foot-four star sidelined. San Antonio leaned into a mid-range approach. continuing to work the floor with pull-up jumpers that kept Minnesota’s defense from settling.
The atmosphere at Target Center reflected how quickly the game shifted.. The crowd erupted when Wembanyama walked off the floor with Minnesota leading by two. and there was a clear sense the Wolves could convert that moment into control.. Yet Minnesota didn’t fully cash in on the advantage created by the ejection.
Earlier issues returned at the worst times.. The Timberwolves committed six turnovers in a 20-point third quarter and then found themselves chasing again early in the fourth.. After Fox hit a three-pointer to put San Antonio into an eight-point hole. Minnesota had to dig out the deficit even with Wembanyama already removed from his usual defensive presence.
Meanwhile. the late push showed what Minnesota can do when it strings together stops and productive possessions in the final minutes.. Edwards’ late lead-changing shotmaking. combined with Gobert’s inside scoring and the Wolves’ ability to protect the lead at the line. ultimately turned a shaky run into a series-swinging finish.
The series now tightens further. with the next game carrying extra weight because of the unanswered question hanging over San Antonio.. Whether Wembanyama can return—or remains sidelined as the league determines his status—will likely decide how both teams shape their matchups and manage the paint in the next showdown.
Timberwolves vs Spurs Anthony Edwards Victor Wembanyama ejection Rudy Gobert Naz Reid NBA playoffs series tie