Timberwolves hang on in Game 1, throttle Spurs 104-102

Chris Hine, The Minnesota Star Tribune on May 5, 2026

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SAN ANTONIO – There was Anthony Edwards, hitting step backs, driving to the basket and talking his usual smack on the floor. There was Victor Wembanyama, swatting double-digit shots at the rim, with the Wolves pleading for a goaltend call on more than a few.

A playoff matchup between two of the game’s best came to fruition with Edwards somehow recovering from a bone bruise he suffered after hyperextending his knee in Game 4 of the team’s series against the Denver Nuggets.

In a physical, defensive-focused Game 1 that came down to the wire, the Wolves pulled out a frantic 104-102 victory in Game 1 tonight.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series is here on Wednesday night.

Edwards entered the night on a minutes restriction, and he started off the bench so coach Chris Finch could save a good chunk of those 25 minutes for the fourth quarter. He finished with 18 points.

Julius Randle had a few big buckets and free throws down the stretch and led the winners with 21 points.

Dylan Harper paced the Spurs with 18 off the bench. Wemanyama had only 11 points on 5-for-17 shooting (0-for-8 on threes) but had 15 rebounds in addition to his 12 blocks for a triple-double.

The Wolves came in with the edge in playoff experience, and they used that to turn a three-point deficit in the fourth into a 95-86 lead with 4:41 to play.

Mike Conley hit a corner three even after Wembanyama blocked his 12th shot of the night. The Wolves don’t get in the position they were in Game 1 without Conley, who had 12 points and six assists. He was 4-for-7 from three-point range when the team as a whole was 10-for-26.

The Wolves got a needed lift in the second half from Terrence Shannon Jr., who made his second consecutive start.

After only four points in the first half — and having Wembanyama swat a few of his misses — Shannon turned it up in a big way in the second half with 12 of his 16 points. The Wolves couldn’t secure a rebound down the stretch of the game, allowing San Antonio back in it.

After an Edwards turnover on an inbound pass, the Spurs cut it two. Neither team called a timeout during the sequence. After a Randle miss, Julian Champagnie had a clean look in transition at a potential winning three, but he missed left.

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