Timberwolves stun San Antonio to take 1-0 lead in West semis
The Timberwolves flirted with disaster Monday in San Antonio, but instead emerged with a 104-102 Game 1 victory over the Spurs. In a matchup featuring a two-time Western Conference finalist and a relative playoff novice, Minnesota executed at a higher level than its counterpart for the first 11 minutes of the fourth quarter. The Wolves opened the frame hitting eight of their first nine shots, including a burst from ailing star Anthony Edwards.
That allowed Minnesota to open up an eight-point advantage with fewer than four minutes to play, that stood at seven still with fewer than two minutes to play and ultimately held off the Spurs late. The Wolves made the game more interesting than it had to be with a late turnover and multiple surrendered offensive rebounds. That allowed the Spurs to have a clean look at the game winner at the horn, but Julian Champagnie’s triple at the horn bounced off the iron.
Minnesota, down two of its top eight players in Donte DiVincenzo and Ayo Dosunmu, got massive contributions from its non-traditional backcourt. Terrence Shannon Jr. was big again for his second straight playoff game, tallying 16 points, while Mike Conley buried four triples.
Julius Randle had 21 points and 10 boards, including nine points in the final frame. He and Edwards scored 20 of Minnesota’s 35 points in the closing quarter. Related Articles Anthony Edwards expected to play in Game 1, Ayo Dosunmu ruled out Even after injury, Donte DiVincenzo refuses to leave Timberwolves’ side Anthony Edwards cleared for on-court activities, questionable for Timberwolves’ Game 1 In pursuit of a championship, can Timberwolves quickly turn the page after thrilling first-round win?
Timberwolves vs. Spurs means Rudy Gobert vs. Victor Wembanyama: mentor vs.