Timberwolves take Game 1 in San Antonio

Minnesota stole Game 1 in San Antonio, 104-102, and that matters because this series was supposed to start with the Spurs’ edge — home court, health, and Victor Wembanyama looking like the biggest problem on the floor. Instead, the Timberwolves got Anthony Edwards back 10 days after a left-knee hyperextension and immediately changed the geometry of the matchup. He came off the bench, played 25 minutes, scored 18, and helped Minnesota grab the one thing every lower seed wants early — control. ### Why was Edwards’ return such a big deal? Because San Antonio had clearly been preparing for a version of Minnesota without him. Edwards had originally been expected to miss at least the first two games, then got upgraded, got cleared, and played anyway. Even in limited minutes, he gave the Wolves a downhill scorer the Spurs had to load up on, and that opened the floor for everyone else. Mike Conley called him “my hero” after the game — basically because Edwards pushed through faster than expected and changed the whole night. ### If Edwards had 18, who really carried Minnesota? Julius Randle did the heavy lifting. He finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Minnesota needed every bit of that shot creation when the offense bogged down. Jaden McDaniels added 16, Donte DiVincenzo hit 4 threes and scored 12, and Rudy Gobert quietly put up 12 points and 9 rebounds while giving the Wolves enough size to survive San Antonio’s interior pressure. This was not one star hijacking the game. It was Minnesota getting just enough from four or five places at once. ### So how did the Spurs still almost win? Because Wembanyama was absurd. He scored 17 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and blocked 12 shots — an NBA playoff record. That sounds like a line from a video game, and for long stretches it looked like one. The catch is that blocks are not the same thing as control. Minnesota kept coming back at him, kept forcing extra rotations, and survived the possessions where San Antonio’s defense looked completely unfair. ### What actually swung the game? The fourth quarter. Minnesota won it 35-30 after trailing entering the period. That was the stretch where the Wolves finally got enough clean offense to offset San Antonio’s rim protection, and it was also where the Spurs’ half-court execution got shakier. The Wolves did not dominate the game start to finish. They just owned the most important five or six minutes. On the road, that’s usually enough. ### Did the numbers say Minnesota earned it? Yes — but narrowly. The Wolves shot 46% from the field and 38% from 3, while San Antonio shot 45% overall and just 28% from deep. Minnesota also blocked 5 shots and got to 104 points despite Wembanyama turning the paint into a no-fly zone. The Spurs rebounded well and protected the rim at an elite level, but the missed threes hurt. In a two-point game, that gap was basically the margin. ### What changes for Game 2? Now the pressure shifts to San Antonio. The Spurs lost home court in the opener, and they did it on a night when Wembanyama delivered a historic defensive game. That’s the uncomfortable part. If a record 12-block night still ends in a loss, the Spurs need cleaner offense and better shooting support around him. Minnesota, meanwhile, gets to ask the best question in the series — what happens if Edwards looks even more like himself next time? ### Bottom line? Game 1 was not just a road win. It was Minnesota proving this series won’t be played on San Antonio’s preferred terms. Edwards’ return gave the Wolves their punch back, and now the Spurs have to answer first.