Wolves Bite Back: Anthony Edwards Erupts After Wembanyama Ejection, Series Tied

The Target Center in Minneapolis was buzzing with a playoff intensity that felt more like a Game 7 than a Game 4. On Sunday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves delivered a performance that was equal parts grit, firepower, and sheer opportunism. Led by a ferocious fourth-quarter takeover from Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves defeated the San Antonio Spurs 114-109, tying the Western Conference second-round series at 2-2. The victory, however, was overshadowed by a bizarre and pivotal moment: the ejection of Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama in the second quarter.

The game was a rollercoaster from the opening tip. San Antonio came out swinging, looking to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. But the night belonged to Minnesota’s resilience and Edwards’s undeniable star power. With the series now shifting back to San Antonio for Game 5 on Tuesday, the Timberwolves have stolen home-court advantage and momentum. But how did they get here? Let’s break down the chaos, the heroics, and what comes next.

The Ejection That Changed Everything

With 5:37 left in the second quarter, the game was still in a delicate balance. That’s when the incident occurred. Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, battling for position under the rim, swung an elbow that caught Timberwolves big man Naz Reid square in the chin. Reid crumpled to the floor, and the referees immediately converged.

After a lengthy video review, the officials deemed the contact a Flagrant 2 foul, resulting in an automatic ejection. Wembanyama, who had been limited to just 12 minutes of action, was done for the night. He finished with a stat line that felt like a ghost: four points, four rebounds, and zero blocks.

• Wembanyama’s impact: Before the ejection, the Spurs’ offense was flowing through him. His absence left a massive void in both rim protection and offensive spacing.
• Reid’s reaction: Naz Reid, the recipient of the elbow, stayed in the game and became a crucial spark off the bench. He finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, playing with a visible chip on his shoulder.
• Momentum shift: The Timberwolves closed the half on a 10-2 run, turning a tight game into a 58-52 lead at the break.

“It’s never the way you want to see a series change,” said Timberwolves coach Chris Finch postgame. “But when a player of that caliber leaves the floor, you have to seize the moment. Our guys did that.”

For the Spurs, the loss of Wembanyama was catastrophic. San Antonio had built their defensive scheme around his 8-foot wingspan. Without him, the Timberwolves attacked the paint with impunity, and Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert (11 points, 13 rebounds) dominated the glass on both ends.

Anthony Edwards: The Closer Arrives

If there was any doubt about who the alpha in this series is, Anthony Edwards erased it in the fourth quarter. The Timberwolves’ superstar scored 16 of his game-high 36 points in the final frame, delivering a masterclass in shot-making and fearless aggression.

With the Spurs clinging to a 90-89 lead with 8 minutes left, Edwards took over. He hit a step-back three over De’Aaron Fox, drove baseline for a thunderous dunk, and then buried a mid-range jumper that silenced the San Antonio bench. Every time the Spurs tried to mount a rally, Edwards had an answer.

“He’s just different,” said Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels, who added 14 points of his own. “When Ant gets that look in his eye, you just get out of the way and let him work.”

Edwards’s efficiency was staggering. He shot 12-of-23 from the field, 4-of-8 from three-point range, and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line. His ability to draw fouls and finish through contact was the difference-maker in a game that featured 12 lead changes.

• Key sequence: With 2:14 left, Edwards stripped Stephon Castle at midcourt, sprinted for a fast-break layup, and drew a foul. The ensuing free throw put Minnesota up 108-102, a lead they would not relinquish.
• Supporting cast: Julius Randle chipped in 12 points, Ayo Dosunmu added 10, and the Timberwolves’ bench outscored San Antonio’s reserves 35-28.

The performance was a reminder that while Wembanyama is the future of the league, Edwards is very much the present. His clutch gene was on full display, and the Timberwolves are now one win away from taking control of the series.

Spurs Fight Back, But Fall Short

To their credit, the San Antonio Spurs refused to fold after losing their franchise player. De’Aaron Fox and reserve guard Dylan Harper each scored 24 points, carrying the offensive load with relentless drives to the basket. Stephon Castle added 20 points, and Devin Vassell chipped in 14, but the Spurs’ defense simply couldn’t hold up.

Without Wembanyama’s rim protection, the Timberwolves shot 52% from the field in the second half. San Antonio’s pick-and-roll defense, which had been elite in Games 1 and 2, looked disjointed. Gobert feasted on lobs and putbacks, while Edwards found open lanes at will.

“We had chances,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. “But when you lose Victor, you lose a lot of what makes your system work. The guys fought hard, but Minnesota made more plays down the stretch.”

The Spurs did rally late. A Fox three-pointer with 45 seconds left cut the deficit to 110-107, but Edwards calmly sank two free throws on the next possession. A turnover by Castle on San Antonio’s subsequent possession sealed the win.

Key issues for the Spurs heading into Game 5:

• Defensive rebounding: Minnesota grabbed 14 offensive boards, leading to 18 second-chance points.
• Foul trouble: The Spurs committed 22 fouls, putting the Timberwolves in the bonus early in both halves.
• Wembanyama’s availability: There is no indication the Spurs star will face a suspension, but his ejection leaves a psychological scar.

Expert Analysis: What Game 5 Holds

This series has been a chess match of adjustments. The Timberwolves stole Game 1 in San Antonio, the Spurs responded with two dominant wins at home, and now Minnesota has leveled the series on their own floor. The momentum is squarely with the Wolves.

Prediction for Game 5 (Tuesday in San Antonio):

• Wembanyama will be on a mission. Expect a monster performance from the French center, who will be eager to atone for his early exit. He will likely finish with 30+ points and 10+ rebounds.
• Anthony Edwards won’t back down. The Timberwolves star has proven he can win shootouts. Look for him to attack Wembanyama early, trying to draw fouls and get the Spurs’ anchor in foul trouble.
• Role players will decide the outcome. In a series where stars are canceling each other out, the contributions of Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels, and Dylan Harper will be critical.

The X-factor? Rudy Gobert’s defense. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year has been inconsistent this series, but his rebounding in Game 4 was vintage. If he can contain Wembanyama in the paint, the Timberwolves have a real shot at stealing another game on the road.

My final call: The Spurs will be desperate, and the home crowd will be electric. But the Timberwolves have the deeper roster and the hotter hand. Look for Minnesota to win Game 5 in a nail-biter, 112-108, taking a 3-2 series lead back to Minneapolis.

Conclusion: A Series Reborn

Sunday night was a microcosm of why playoff basketball is the most unpredictable theater in sports. One elbow changed the course of a game, and potentially a series. The Minnesota Timberwolves, led by a supernova performance from Anthony Edwards, refused to let the moment slip away. They now have a golden opportunity to seize control against a Spurs team that, for one night, looked mortal without its giant.

But let’s not bury San Antonio. Victor Wembanyama will be back, and he will be angry. The series is now a best-of-three, with Game 5 in the Alamo City. The question is: Can the Timberwolves replicate this level of intensity on the road? Or will the Spurs’ championship pedigree shine through?

One thing is certain: This series is far from over. The Timberwolves have the edge, but the Spurs have the star power to reclaim it. Buckle up—the Western Conference semifinals just got a whole lot more interesting.

Source: Based on news from Deadspin.

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