Anthony Edwards’ rapid return sparks Timberwolves’ 104-102 upset of Spurs in West semis opener
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SAN ANTONIO — Eight days after hyperextending his left knee, Anthony Edwards came off the bench to score 18 points and help the Minnesota Timberwolves edge the 62-win San Antonio Spurs 104-102 on Monday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.
The 22-year-old guard sustained a deep bone bruise while contesting a shot in the previous round. Following a week of underwater treadmill sessions and resistance-band work, he completed a light practice Saturday and convinced team doctors he could play sooner than the club’s initial Game 3 target. Minnesota listed him as questionable Sunday, then restricted him to 25 minutes in the opener.
Edwards maximized that time, hitting 8 of 13 shots and tallying 11 points in the final nine minutes. “I know being out there calms everybody down,” he said afterward, adding he is ready for a larger workload if requested.
Veteran guard Mike Conley called Edwards “my hero,” likening the comeback to his own masked appearance days after a facial fracture in the 2015 playoffs. Head coach Chris Finch had been told the earliest Edwards might return was Game 2, but the All-Star insisted on playing without any full-contact practice.
Defense carries Minnesota, Wembanyama sets block mark
Minnesota’s defense contained De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama to a combined 10-for-31 shooting and 0-for-12 from three-point range, limiting San Antonio to 45 first-half points. Still, the Spurs stayed close behind Wembanyama’s NBA playoff-record 12 blocked shots; Denver’s Nikola Jokić registered only five blocks across six games in the previous round.
The Timberwolves nearly slipped late when Edwards’ inbounds pass was stolen, but Julian Champagnie’s potential game-winning three missed at the buzzer, sealing Minnesota’s road victory.
Source: ESPN
