Anthony Edwards Returns From Knee Injury to Lead Timberwolves Past Spurs in Playoff Upset

Key facts

• Anthony Edwards returned from a bone bruise and hyperextension in his left knee to play 25 minutes off the bench.
• Edwards scored 18 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, to lead the No. 6 Timberwolves past the No. 2 Spurs 104-102.
• Victor Wembanyama recorded a triple-double with 11 points, 15 rebounds and 12 blocks, the most blocks in a playoff game since 1973-74.
• Julius Randle led Minnesota with 21 points and 10 rebounds; Terrence Shannon Jr. added 16 points and five rebounds.
• Julian Champagnie's potential game-winning three-pointer bounced off the rim as time expired.
• The Timberwolves had six players score in double figures.
• Edwards suffered the injury on April 25 against the Denver Nuggets and was initially expected to miss at least Game 1.

Edwards defies injury timeline to spark Wolves

Anthony Edwards returned to the court Monday night, just nine days after hyperextending his left knee and suffering a bone bruise, and led the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 104-102 upset victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. Coming off the bench under a minutes restriction, Edwards played 25 minutes and scored 18 points, with 11 coming in the fourth quarter. His performance transformed a tight game into a lead the Wolves never relinquished. Most observers expected Edwards to miss at least Game 1, with a possible return as late as Game 3 on Friday. Instead, he threw himself into rehabilitation and returned five days sooner than anticipated. "I know for a fact, just me being out there, it calms everybody down," Edwards said before the game.

A defensive slugfest from the opening tip

The game was defined by defense from the very first possession, when 7-foot-1 Rudy Gobert and 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama squared off at midcourt and traded blocks in the opening seconds. Wembanyama, the Defensive Player of the Year, recorded 12 blocks — the most in a playoff game since the statistic became official in the 1973-74 season — along with 11 points and 15 rebounds for a triple-double. Gobert contributed 10 rebounds and seven points. Despite Wembanyama's historic defensive effort, he struggled offensively, going 0-for-8 from three-point range and appearing to have difficulty against his French national teammate Gobert. "We have to be better," a stoic Wembanyama said after the loss.

Balanced scoring and a late scare

The Timberwolves had six players finish in double figures, led by Julius Randle's 21 points and 10 rebounds. Terrence Shannon Jr., who started in Edwards' place, added 16 points and five rebounds. Edwards spent the first three quarters feeling out his limitations before taking over in the fourth, hitting two three-pointers and feeding Randle for another to tie the game at 84, then driving to the basket to give Minnesota the lead. Trailing 101-94 with 1:44 remaining, the Spurs mounted a furious comeback, but Julian Champagnie's potential game-winning three-pointer bounced off the rim as time expired. Edwards' only blemish was a late turnover that Dylan Harper turned into a dunk, cutting the deficit to two points.

Wembanyama's triple-double not enough

Wembanyama's 12 blocks were the centerpiece of a historic individual effort, but his offensive struggles proved costly. The Spurs, the No. 2 seed in the West, now face a 1-0 deficit against the sixth-seeded Timberwolves, who already eliminated the Denver Nuggets and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic in the first round. Wembanyama commanded the pace from the start, racking up seven blocks by halftime, but could not carry the team to victory. The Timberwolves' win sets up a series that now shifts to Minnesota for Game 2, with the Wolves holding home-court advantage after stealing a road win at Frost Bank Center.

Knicks rout 76ers in Eastern Conference opener

Earlier Monday, the No. 3-seed New York Knicks dismantled the No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers 137-98 to take Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series. Jalen Brunson scored 35 points in just 31 minutes, taking advantage of a 76ers team that appeared lethargic after a seven-game first-round battle with Boston. Actor Timothée Chalamet was courtside cheering for the Knicks, skipping the Met Gala to attend the game.

What comes next for both teams

Game 2 of the Timberwolves-Spurs series is scheduled for Wednesday in San Antonio, with the Wolves looking to build on their momentum and the Spurs aiming to even the series before it moves to Minnesota. Edwards' minutes restriction could be lifted as his knee continues to heal, potentially giving the Wolves an even greater offensive boost. For the Spurs, the focus will be on generating better offensive looks for Wembanyama and improving their three-point shooting after a 0-for-8 night from their star. The Timberwolves have proven they can win on the road against a top seed, but sustaining that level of play over a seven-game series remains an open question. The Spurs, meanwhile, will need to adjust to the physicality and defensive intensity that Minnesota brought in Game 1.

The bottom line

• Anthony Edwards returned from a knee injury nine days after suffering a bone bruise and hyperextension, playing 25 minutes and scoring 18 points.
• The Timberwolves won 104-102 on the road against the No. 2 Spurs, taking a 1-0 series lead.
• Victor Wembanyama recorded a triple-double with 12 blocks, the most in a playoff game since 1973-74, but struggled offensively.
• Julius Randle led Minnesota with 21 points and 10 rebounds; six Timberwolves scored in double figures.
• Julian Champagnie missed a potential game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer.
• The Knicks defeated the 76ers 137-98 in the Eastern Conference semifinal opener, with Jalen Brunson scoring 35 points.