Spurs open second round vs Timberwolves Monday

The Spurs’ second round is set now — and it starts fast. San Antonio opens the Western Conference semifinals against the Timberwolves on Monday, May 4, at Frost Bank Center after Minnesota knocked out Denver in six games. The bigger wrinkle is Anthony Edwards. He’s still dealing with a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise, so the cleanest version of this series — Edwards vs. Victor Wembanyama — might not be there on opening night. (nba.com) ### So what’s actually locked in? The dates are firm even if tipoff times were still listed as TBD when the bracket updated. Game 1 is Monday, May 4, in San Antonio. Game 2 is Wednesday, May 6, also in San Antonio. Then the series shifts to Minneapolis for Games 3 and 4 on May 8 and May 10, with Games 5 through 7 set for May 12, May 15, and May 17 if needed. (nba.com) home court? Because the Spurs finished 62-20 and grabbed the No. 2 seed in the West, while Minnesota came in at 49-33 as the No. 6 seed. That means San Antonio gets Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 at home. For a young team that just got its first playoff series win since 2017, that matters a lot — especially in a matchup that looks like it could swing on a possession or two each night. (nba.com) ### What happened to Edwards? He hurt his left knee in the first round against Denver. The official diagnosis was a hyperextension plus a bone bruise, with no structural damage, and Minnesota listed him as week-to-week. NBA playoff preview coverage for this series says he’ll begin the matchup on the injury list, which is the key point for Monday. He might return later. But right now, Minnesota has to plan(nba.com)ts top scorer. (nba.com) ### Does that make Minnesota less dangerous? Yes — but not harmless. The Wolves still beat Denver in Game 6 without Edwards, and Jaden McDaniels dropped a playoff career-high 32 in the clincher. Minnesota has also been here before. This is a team chasing a third straight trip to the Western Conference finals, and that experience shows up in ugly games, short rotations, and matchup ad(nba.com) threat doesn’t disappear. (msn.com) ### What does the regular season tell us? Minnesota won the season series 2-1. The scores were 125-112, 104-103, and 126-123, so none of this suggests a sleepy, slow-burn matchup. It suggests a series where margins stay thin and late-game execution matters. One catch, though — Wembanyama missed one of those losses, so the head-to-head record needs a little context. (nba.com) ### What’s the matchup inside the matchup? Wembanyama against Minnesota’s size is the obvious one. Rudy Gobert is the classic rim-protecting counterweight, and Julius Randle gives the Wolves another physical scorer up front. On the perimeter, San Antonio can throw Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox into actions, while Minnesota leans on McDaniels, Mike Conley, and whatever shot creation it can build if Edwar(nba.com)h, pressure, and who can survive the half court. (nba.com) ### Why does this feel bigger than one round? Because the Spurs are ahead of schedule now. They’re not just back in the playoffs — they’re hosting Round 2 with a 62-win team built around Wembanyama and Fox. But Minnesota is the kind of opponent that tells you whether a rise is real or just exciting. One team is arriving. The other has already lived in this part of the bracket. (nba.com) ### Bottom line The news is simple — Spurs-Wolves starts Monday in San Antonio. The real story is the shape of it. If Edwards can’t go, San Antonio gets a cleaner runway. If he comes back quickly, this could turn into the loudest young-star series of the round. (kens5.com)