Anthony Edwards returns from injury as Timberwolves beat Spurs in Game 1

Minnesota’s Game 1 win was about two things at once. Anthony Edwards came back way earlier than expected, and Victor Wembanyama still somehow turned the paint into a no-fly zone. The weird part is that both things were true, and Minnesota still walked out with a 104-102 win in San Antonio on May 4. That gives the Timberwolves a 1-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals and changes the feel of the series immediately. (nba.com) ### Why was Edwards’ return such a big deal? Edwards had hyperextended his left knee and suffered a bone bruise on April 25 in Game 4 against Denver, and the expectation was that he could miss at least the start of this series. Instead, he pushed back in after nine days, came off the bench on a minutes limit, and gave Minnesota exactly the kind of downhill scoring and emotional jolt the roster badly needed. (nba.com) ### What did he actually give them? Not a full Anthony Edwards game — but enough. He played 25 minutes, scored 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting, and poured in 11 points in the fourth quarter. That last part matters most, because this was a tight, ugly playoff game where clean offense was hard to find and one player who can create something out of nothing suddenly becomes the whole hinge. (nba.com)ns-propels-wolves-spurs-game-1-stunner)) ### So how did Wembanyama still lose this? Because blocks are not the same thing as control over the whole game. Wembanyama had 11 points, 15 rebounds and 12 blocks — a new NBA postseason record. He became just the third player to post a playoff triple-double including blocks since the league started tracking them in 1973-74. But San Antonio still needed enough shot-making around that defensive chaos, and it didn’t quite get there. (nba.com) ### Where did the game swing? Late. San Antonio led 72-69 after three quarters, but Minnesota won the fourth 35-30. Edwards’ burst was a big part of that, and Julius Randle’s steady scoring helped keep the Wolves attached long enough for that closing run to matter. Basically, Minnesota survived the shot-blocking storm and then played the cleaner finishing stretch. (espn.com)l chance at the end? Yes — right to the buzzer. San Antonio cut it to 104-102 on a Devin Vassell steal and Dylan Harper layup with 31 seconds left. After a Minnesota miss, Julian Champagnie got a 3-pointer at the horn that would have won it, but it didn’t fall. So this wasn’t Minnesota taking over early and coasting. It was a road escape. (nba.com) series? Because the Spurs were the higher seed at 62-20 and had home court, and because Edwards wasn’t supposed to be back this soon. Minnesota already stole the opener on the road. Now San Antonio has to adjust to a version of the Wolves that suddenly looks more whole than expected, even if Edwards still isn’t fully explosive yet. (espn.com)ame-1-stunner)) ### What should you watch in Game 2? Two things — whether Edwards can handle more than 25 minutes, and whether Minnesota finds a cleaner answer for Wembanyama’s rim protection. If the Wolves can keep him from turning every drive into a blocked-shot highlight, this gets dangerous for San Antonio fast. But if Wembanyama keeps owning the paint and t(espn.com)n San Antonio. (nba.com) ### Bottom line Minnesota got the one thing it could not count on — Anthony Edwards back in uniform — and turned that surprise into home-court theft. Wembanyama made history, but Edwards changed the result. (nba.com)