FiscalFusion

Anthony Edwards had another huge playoff game as the Minnesota Timberwolves upset the San Antonio Spurs 114-109 in Game 4 of their second-round NBA playoff series to level the series at two games apiece. Edwards had 36 points, 16 in the fourth quarter, helping Minnesota overcome several rough periods and close off a hard-fought match at the Target Center. The game took a dramatic turn early in the second quarter when Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was dismissed after picking up a Flagrant 2 foul for harsh contact on Timberwolves forward Naz Reid. Wembanyama hit Reid with an elbow to the neck in a moment of frustration, prompting referees to analyze the play before issuing an immediate ejection. The Spurs youngster walked off the court to a chorus of cheers but despite losing their greatest star early in the game, San Antonio continued to battle and nearly pulled off the win on the road. Wembanyama did make contact with Reid, who stayed in the game and made some big plays for Minnesota. He finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, helping the Timberwolves control important stretches late in the fourth quarter. After the game Reid shrugged off the big hit with a simple reply, pain is merely weakness leaving the body. “His energy was a big factor for Minnesota as the Wolves leaned on their frontcourt heavily once Wembanyama was no longer around to protect the paint for the Spurs. Even with the benefit of Wembanyama’s absence, the Timberwolves had patches of difficulty.

San Antonio’s young guards were confident and kept the game competitive all night. Dylan Harper and De’Aaron Fox each had 24 points, and Stephon Castle finished with 20 points for the Spurs. Rather than collapse after losing their leading scorer, the Spurs used aggressive guard play and good mid-range shooting to keep things under control for most of the second half. Harper drew particular praise for his cool-headed decision-making and scoring touch amid the postseason pressure. After the game, the youngster stated he just tried to give the squad whatever it needed, albeit he conceded the biggest disappointment was not getting the win. Minnesota found itself down eight early in the fourth after a Fox three-pointer pushed the lead for San Antonio. The Timberwolves had battled with turnovers in the third quarter and appeared to have the game slipping away from them. That's when Edwards took control offensively. The All-Star guard sank a long 27-foot 3-pointer to chip away at the lead and quickly turned to the crowd to solicit more energy from the supporters. A few minutes later, Edwards drained another three from the wing to give Minnesota its first lead since the middle of the third quarter.

His confidence and shot-making shifted the entire momentum of the game.” As soon as the Timberwolves took the lead, their frontcourt players started to dominate the paint. Rudy Gobert was a big part of things late, ending with 11 points and 13 boards. Soon after, Gobert made a crucial three-point play on a high ball from Reid near the hoop and later added a thunderous dunk on a dish from Julius Randle to increase Minnesota's lead. Reid also scored on a big put-back with under a minute left that gave the Timberwolves a seven-point lead and put the pressure on San Antonio to come back fast. The Spurs didn’t stop, not even in the dying seconds. Harper continued to battle on both ends, grabbing a rebound, getting a foul and forcing a theft and hitting free throws to trim the deficit to three late. San Antonio had one last shot as Minnesota failed to inbound the ball from the full court. Jaden McDaniels threw a long, baseball-style pass down the court, but Fox disrupted it, leading to a short loose ball situation that gave the Spurs a glimmer of hope. But Ayo Dosunmu responded under pressure, got a foul and calmly converted two free throws with under 10 seconds left to seal the win for Minnesota. The result tied the playoff series 2-2, and turned the spotlight to Game 5, which will be played in San Antonio.

The focus going into the next game will be on Wembanyama’s availability after his dismissal. The foul was a Flagrant 2, which allows the NBA league office the option to evaluate the play further and determine if extra punishment or suspension is warranted. If the Spurs lose Wembanyama for another game it will be a huge test for them, particularly after the way they hung in there when he left Game 4. Edwards said after the game that, though he won, sometimes it can be mentally harder to play against a club missing its best player. He said that without a star player, the rest of the squad tends to play more freely and aggressively as other players get chances and confidence. Minnesota faced that same scenario as San Antonio’s youthful guards attacked the defense relentlessly and maintained the pressure on all night. Gobert also lauded the Timberwolves for their mental toughness in the game's challenging periods. He stated resilience and trust in one another helped them get through another tough playoff fight. Minnesota may not always play great or consistent basketball, Gobert said, but the team has a knack for rising to the occasion when the pressure is at its peak. That skill was again vital as the Timberwolves answered mistakes, managed late-game pressure and didn’t fall behind in the series..