In Minneapolis, Anthony Edwards contributed 16 of his total 36 points during the final quarter, aiding the Minnesota Timberwolves in leveling their second-round NBA playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs with a 114-109 win, which occurred after the surprising removal of star Victor Wembanyama early in the second quarter of Sunday’s Game 4.
Naz Reid sustained a significant elbow strike to the neck from an agitated Wembanyama and concluded the game with 15 points and nine rebounds, assisting the Timberwolves in closing out powerfully despite experiencing some inconsistent periods.
Edwards sank a shot from 27 feet, narrowing the deficit for the Wolves to 94-91, then turned to loudly address the spectators, seeking their encouragement in the closing moments as the Spurs promptly requested a timeout. His quick-release three-point shot from the side of the court, with 5:12 remaining, gave them a 98-97 advantage, marking their initial lead since the midpoint of the third period.
Subsequently, the frontcourt players took over in Wembanyama’s absence from the restricted area. Rudy Gobert completed a three-point opportunity with 3:02 remaining, set up by a clever pass from Reid, and subsequently executed a slam dunk for a 107-101 advantage at the 1:56 mark, following an assist from Julius Randle. Gobert accumulated 11 points and secured 13 boards.
Reid’s put-back shot, occurring with 40 seconds remaining, extended the Wolves’ lead to seven points, prior to Dylan Harper securing a rebound, drawing a foul, making a steal, and converting two free throws, which enabled the Spurs to reduce the margin to three. Ayo Dosunmu successfully made two free throws at the 9.8-second mark, securing the victory and equalizing the series at two contests each.
San Antonio will be the venue for Game 5 on Tuesday; Wembanyama’s participation hinges on the league’s decision regarding the Flagrant 2 foul and the resulting automatic disqualification he received due to the egregious contact against Reid.
Harper and De’Aaron Fox individually contributed 24 points, and Stephon Castle chipped in with 20, as the Spurs’ backcourt players fearlessly assumed leadership from their 7-foot-4 dominant force, transforming the remainder of the evening into a demonstration of mid-range proficiency featuring numerous pull-up shots both within and near the key.
The spectators at Target Center erupted in excitement as Wembanyama departed the court with Minnesota ahead by two, yet the Wolves did not entirely capitalize on the advantage presented by his departure. They have historically shown a propensity to diminish their intensity, especially on defense, when a key opposing player is not participating.
Following six turnovers during a third quarter where they scored 20 points, the Wolves encountered another eight-point deficit at the beginning of the fourth period after Fox successfully made a three-point shot.
