Timberwolves even series 2-2

Minnesota just turned this series back into a coin flip. The Timberwolves beat the Spurs 114-109 in Game 4 on Sunday, May 10, tying the Western Conference semifinal 2-2 after a night that swung hard on one moment — Victor Wembanyama’s ejection early in the second quarter. Anthony Edwards finished with 36 points and basically dragged the Wolves through the closing stretch. (nba.com) Now the series heads back to San Antonio for Game 5 on Tuesday night, and whatever felt settled two days ago suddenly doesn’t. ### What actually changed in Game 4? The biggest change was simple: San Antonio lost its best player 13 minutes into the game. Wembanyama was ejected after officials reviewed a play involving Naz Reid and upgraded it to a Flagrant 2. (nba.com) That ended his night immediately, and it forced the Spurs to play the rest of a tight playoff game without the guy who shapes everything they do on both ends. ### Why was the ejection such a huge deal? Wembanyama is not just San Antonio’s top scorer or rim protector. He bends the floor. On defense, he lets the Spurs challenge drives and still recover. On offense, his size changes every coverage choice Minnesota makes. Remove that in the second quarter and the Spurs have to rewire the game on the fly. (nba.com) The surprising part is that they still nearly stole it. ### So how did Minnesota finish the job? Edwards took over late. He scored 16 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter, and that was the part that mattered most because the game stayed tight deep into the final minutes. Minnesota did not blow San Antonio off the floor after the ejection. The Wolves had to keep answering, and Edwards gave them the shot creation the game demanded. (nba.com) ### Did the Spurs fall apart without Wembanyama? Not really — and that’s part of why this series still feels dangerous for Minnesota. San Antonio stayed within reach all night and had a real chance to win even after losing Wembanyama. That matters because it suggests the Spurs’ structure is sturdier than one chaotic night might imply. (nba.com) The ejection changed the balance, but it did not expose some fatal weakness. ### What does 2-2 mean here? It means the series is reset, but not evenly in every sense. San Antonio gets Game 5 at home on Tuesday, May 12, which restores a version of control after Minnesota prevented a 3-1 hole. In playoff terms, that is massive. A 3-1 deficit turns every possession into survival. (nba.com) A 2-2 tie turns the matchup back into a best-of-three with the Spurs holding the next home game. ### Is Wembanyama playing in Game 5? As of the latest reporting after Game 4, the ejection was automatic because of the Flagrant 2, but that did not automatically mean a suspension beyond that game. CBS’s player update said he was not expected to be suspended further, which points toward him being available for Game 5 unless the league says otherwise. (si.com) ### What should you watch next? Watch whether Minnesota can carry Edwards’ late-game control onto the road, and watch whether San Antonio regains its two-way shape with Wembanyama back. That is the real hinge now — not the drama of the ejection itself, but whether Game 4 was a one-off emotional swing or the start of a genuine Wolves adjustment. (nba.com) ### Bottom line? Minnesota got the win it absolutely needed. But the larger story is not just that the series is tied — it’s that one wild second-quarter moment erased San Antonio’s cushion and shoved this matchup into a fresh, high-pressure race to two. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2) (cbssports.com)