Timberwolves even series 2-2 with 114-109 Game 4 win over Spurs

A playoff game can turn on one whistle. That’s basically what happened in Minneapolis on Sunday night. Minnesota beat San Antonio 114-109 in Game 4, tied the second-round series 2-2, and changed the feel of the matchup in one swing — Victor Wembanyama’s first career ejection. ### What actually flipped this game? The biggest moment came early in the second quarter. Wembanyama caught Naz Reid in the throat with an elbow while fighting for position, the play was reviewed, and the officials upgraded it to a Flagrant 2. That sent San Antonio’s best player to the locker room and forced the Spurs to play the rest of the night without the one guy who has warped this series on both ends. (nba.com) ### Did Minnesota take over right away? Not really — and that’s part of why this win matters. San Antonio still led 84-80 after three quarters, which told you the Spurs didn’t just fall apart once Wembanyama left. Minnesota had to go win the game late, and it did, mostly because Anthony Edwards went from solid to overwhelming in the fourth quarter. (nba.com) ### How good was Edwards late? He finished with 36 points, and 16 of them came in the fourth. That’s the whole story in miniature. Minnesota needed a closer, and Edwards became one — attacking downhill, getting to his spots, and forcing San Antonio’s defense to collapse without Wembanyama waiting behind it. The Wolves didn’t just have more shot creation late. They had the only player on the floor who looked fully in control of the moment. (sports.yahoo.com) ### Why does Wembanyama matter that much? Because this series has been built around his size. He protects the rim, erases mistakes, and changes what Minnesota even tries to do in the paint. In Game 1, he was already doing absurd playoff stuff — 12 blocks in a single game, which set an NBA postseason record. So when he exited in Game 4, the geometry changed. Minnesota’s drivers saw space instead of a 7-foot-4 problem standing at the basket. (sports.yahoo.com) ### Was this only about the ejection? No — but the ejection was the hinge. Minnesota still had to execute, and San Antonio still showed why it earned the No. 2 seed after a 62-20 regular season. The Spurs stayed organized, kept scoring, and made the Wolves work for every late possession. But the catch is that playoff basketball gets brutally simple in close games: if one team loses its best two-way player, the margin for error disappears. (espn.com) ### What changed in the series? A lot, fast. Minnesota stole Game 1 in San Antonio, then the Spurs answered by winning Games 2 and 3 to take control. Game 4 was the Wolves’ chance to keep the series from tilting away, and they got it. Instead of heading back to Texas down 3-1, they’re back in this as a real best-of-three. ### What should you watch next? Game 5 is Tuesday, May 12, in San Antonio. (espn.com) The obvious question is whether the league adds any discipline beyond the in-game ejection. But even if Wembanyama plays, the bigger thing is psychological — Minnesota now knows it can survive the Spurs’ size and win the late-game possession battle when Edwards has the ball. ### Bottom line (espn.com) This wasn’t just a 2-2 equalizer. It was Minnesota proving the series is still on its terms if Edwards can own the fourth quarter — and San Antonio learning how thin the line is when Wembanyama isn’t there to cover everything. (sports.yahoo.com) (nba.com)