MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Edwards offered handshakes and hugs to the San Antonio Spurs with eight minutes left on Friday night, acknowledging what he called the superior club as the Minnesota Timberwolves fell 139-109 in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals.
“I mean, I just tip my hat to them,” the All-Star guard said afterward. “They’re just the better team.”
The defeat marked Minnesota’s third straight postseason elimination by at least 20 points. The Timberwolves lost 124-103 to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 West finals and 124-94 to the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 conference finals.
Injuries hamper Minnesota’s lineup
Edwards returned ahead of schedule from a first-round knee injury but admitted he never reached full strength. Ayo Dosunmu missed the series opener with a lower-leg issue, and sharpshooter Donte DiVincenzo was sidelined for the series after tearing an Achilles tendon against the Denver Nuggets.
“He spreads the floor like no other,” Edwards said of DiVincenzo. “In a series like this where they’re just double-teaming, I would love to have Donte in my slot and just throwing it to him the entire time and shoot 20 threes.”
Spurs seize control early
San Antonio built a 20-0 second-quarter surge behind rookie guard Stephon Castle’s 32 points. Victor Wembanyama had a comparatively quiet night, yet the Spurs still led by as many as 30. Timberwolves starters combined to shoot 18-for-59 as the deficit ballooned again in the second half.
Questions linger for offseason
Asked about the pattern of lopsided exits, Edwards declined to elaborate. “Good question. No comment,” he said. When pressed on what Minnesota needs to challenge teams like San Antonio and Oklahoma City, he replied, “I don’t know, man. I don’t think that’s a question for me.”
Head coach Chris Finch acknowledged the Western Conference talent logjam. “You’ve either got to be a problem or have a solution,” he said. “GMs across the league wrestle with these things all the time.”
Despite the setback, Edwards expressed confidence in the roster. “I feel like we’re good,” he said, though he added the group did not build “championship habits” during the regular season.
Source: ESPN
