No one really knew what to expect heading into Game 1. All that was clear was the huge question mark over Anthony Edwards, who had been tipped to miss a while longer after hurting his knee against Denver. San Antonio also came in at home with the confidence of a young, ambitious team, led by a Victor Wembanyama already capable of flipping any game on his own. And yet, after the opening game of the Western Conference semifinals, it was the Timberwolves who walked away with the win, 104-102, after a bruising, physical, messy at times, and often electric battle.
This was no fluke. Minnesota was right on brand with what it has shown over the past few weeks: a hard, stubborn team that knows how to hang around in tight games. And, crucially, the Wolves got Anthony Edwards back far sooner than expected. His unexpected return changed the whole mood of the night. Not just because he scored 18 points. But because he immediately gave his team what it needs most when doubts creep in: a presence, a threat, and a bit of calm in the chaos.
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Edwards’ return changed the feel of the game straight away
He was not supposed to be back this soon. That is what made his appearance all the more striking. After the bone bruise and hyperextension in his left knee, plenty figured he would miss at least the first two games of the series. Instead, he was in uniform, available, and ready to come off the bench. Even that alone carried real weight.
Mike Conley summed it up neatly after the game: just having Edwards around settles everybody down. That is exactly what showed. Edwards did not need to start to make his mark. He checked in, scored quickly, lifted the energy, then turned it up again in the fourth quarter with 11 points as the game tightened into a chokehold. He finished with 18 points in 25 minutes, shooting 8 for 13 from the field. Clean, efficient, and huge given the circumstances.
Anthony Edwards 18 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST, 1 BLK, 8/13 FG, 2/3 3FG, 0 FTS, 69.2% TS vs Spurs https://t.co/6SloOAV3iw pic.twitter.com/2tWE2IDIUT
— Basketball Performances (@NBAPerformances) May 5, 2026
Some comebacks are symbolic. This one was more than that. Minnesota got back its most explosive player at exactly the right moment.
Wembanyama produced a defensive masterclass for the ages
And yet, on the other side, Victor Wembanyama put together something historic. The Frenchman finished with 11 points, 15 rebounds and, most of all, 12 blocks. Twelve. In a playoff game. That is an NBA postseason record. Even if his touch on the other end was off, with 5 for 17 shooting and 0 for 8 from deep, his defensive impact was massive.
Victor Wembanyama 11 PTS, 15 REB, 12 BLK, 5/17 FG, 1/2 FT, 30.8% TS vs Wolves
Most blocks in a single playoff game. https://t.co/XFQMJLoeoy pic.twitter.com/Zo41A1BbiB
— Basketball Performances (@NBAPerformances) May 5, 2026
The tone was set early. Wemby and Rudy Gobert were trading blocks almost from the opening tip, as if this thing was turning into a war of the paint and endless arms.
La séquence en vidéo ! 😍pic.twitter.com/APooUdAwap https://t.co/3wmRhvDVNe
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) May 5, 2026
Wembanyama, for his part, made his presence felt fast. He shut off the paint, wrecked several Minnesota possessions and reminded everyone, if it still needed saying, that he is already a total outlier when he is protecting the rim.
But that was the cruel part of the night for San Antonio: even with a defensive display that will live in the record books, the Spurs still lost. That is probably what will sting most this morning.
The Wolves handled the little things better
For long stretches, this looked like a trench fight. Both teams traded blows, neither able to fully pull away. Minnesota left a pile of points at the free-throw line, going a ugly 12 for 21. The Spurs, meanwhile, struggled more from outside, hitting just 28% from three compared with 38% for the visitors. In a game this tight, those margins tell the story.
It was Mike Conley, the old hand among the young Wolves, who created the first real gap with a three-pointer that pushed Minnesota nine up. It was not the knockout punch, but it was the first moment the game really looked like it might turn.
San Antonio made one last push in the closing seconds. Julian Champagnie kept scraping up vital offensive rebounds, Dylan Harper got his side back within one possession, and the final shot for the win even ended up in Champagnie’s hands at the buzzer. This time, it just would not drop.
The Spurs can still believe, but they let one slip
It is not all doom and gloom for San Antonio. Losing by two in a game this close, against a Wolves team boosted by Edwards’ surprise return, changes nothing in the series on its own. If anything, this one showed the Spurs they can hang with Minnesota, defend hard, throw them off rhythm in patches and lean on a real identity.
But there are fixes needed, and quickly. Wembanyama cannot live with 5 for 17 shooting if San Antonio wants to level this series. His defensive impact is monstrous, yes, but offensively the Spurs need their franchise player to be far more efficient. As a group, they also have to punish Minnesota’s fouls better, manage the hot stretches more smartly and cut out the little lapses that let the Wolves catch their breath.
On the other side, Minnesota gets the result it wanted and a huge reason to believe. Anthony Edwards is back. And with him, just about anything feels possible.
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