Anthony Edwards scores 36 as Timberwolves force 2‑2 tie with Spurs

Minnesota got the win it absolutely had to get. The Timberwolves beat San Antonio 114-109 on Sunday, May 10, and pulled this second-round series back to 2-2. But the game turned on two things at once — Anthony Edwards going full closer in the fourth, and Victor Wembanyama getting tossed before halftime. That combo changed the night, and now it has changed the series. ### Why does this game matter so much? Because 3-1 and 2-2 are basically different universes. San Antonio came in up 2-1 and had a real chance to put Minnesota on the edge. Instead, the Wolves protected home court, reset the matchup, and turned Game 5 in San Antonio into the swing game instead of a potential closeout setup. ### What actually happened? The Spurs still made Minnesota sweat. Even without Wembanyama for the last 2½ quarters, San Antonio stayed in front deep into the second half and led by eight in the fourth. Then Edwards took over. He scored 16 in the final period and dragged the Wolves through the closing stretch when the offense could have stalled out. (nba.com) ### Why was Wembanyama ejected? Early in the second quarter, Wembanyama caught Naz Reid with an elbow to the face and was assessed a flagrant foul penalty two. That was the shock of the game. San Antonio lost its best rim protector, its biggest matchup problem for Minnesota, and the player who warps every possession even when he is not scoring. The strange part is that the Spurs still nearly stole it anyway. (nba.com) ### How big was Edwards’ night? Huge, but not just because of the 36 points. The timing mattered more than the total. Minnesota needed someone to settle the game once it got messy, and Edwards was that guy late. This was not one of those empty high-scoring nights. It was a star bailing his team out when the series was starting to tilt away. (nba.com) ### Did Minnesota dominate after the ejection? Not really — and that is the part the Wolves should care about. You would expect a cleaner win once the other team loses Wembanyama that early. Instead, Minnesota let the game stay tight and had to come from behind in the fourth. Edwards himself said the Wolves almost wasted the opening. So the result is good, but the process was shakier than the final score makes it look. (nba.com) ### Who else mattered for Minnesota? Rudy Gobert gave them the steady interior stuff they needed — 11 points and 13 rebounds. In a game that got chaotic, that kind of line matters. Gobert helped keep possessions alive, cleaned up misses, and made sure Minnesota did not lose the physical battle after San Antonio downsized without Wembanyama. (heavy.com) ### So what changes for Game 5? The obvious question is Wembanyama’s status, but assuming he is available, San Antonio still has reason to feel annoyed rather than panicked. The Spurs proved they could function without him for long stretches. Minnesota, though, gets the bigger emotional boost — the series is even, Edwards looks fully in command late, and the pressure has shifted back to the higher-seeded team at home. (nba.com) Game 5 is set for Tuesday, May 12, in San Antonio. ### Bottom line This was the kind of playoff game that rewrites the mood fast. Minnesota did not play a perfect game, but it got the only thing that mattered — a reset. Now the series is best-of-three, and Edwards has made it clear who the loudest closer in it might be. (nba.com)