A great Anthony Edwards leads the Wolves against the Spurs (2-2)

Anthony Edwards refused to let the Minnesota Timberwolves season slip away. On a Mother's Day filled with emotion, the Minnesota star put on a monumental performance, scoring 36 points to lead the 114-109 victory against the San Antonio Spurs and tie the second round playoff series 2-2.

Right at the start of his press conference, Edwards wanted to explain the special meaning the game had for him. "Today is Mother's Day. I just wanted to win for my mom. That simple," he stated.

Edwards' mother, Yvette Edwards, passed away from cancer in 2015, while his grandmother, Shirley Edwards, also died from cancer just eight months later. The shooting guard has explained on several occasions that he wears the number 5 because both passed away on the 5th of a month. He even symbolically brought them with him on the night of the 2020 Draft when the Timberwolves selected him number one, placing portraits of both next to him.

"Of course, I was thinking of her," acknowledged Edwards after the game. "I couldn't lose this game for her."

And he didn't. Minnesota survived in a series that seemed to be slipping away, thanks to a spectacular fourth quarter from their star and the ejection of Victor Wembanyama in the second period.

The decisive action came when the French center elbowed Naz Reid in the chin while battling for a rebound. After reviewing the play on the monitor, the referees called a flagrant foul type 2, resulting in Wembanyama's automatic ejection and completely changing the course of the game.

Until that moment, San Antonio had controlled much of the series thanks to the defensive impact of the French player, who had accumulated 19 blocks in the first three games and constantly disrupted Minnesota's attacks near the rim. However, the Spurs did not give up despite losing their key player. Rookie Dylan Harper contributed 24 points off the bench, Stephon Castle added 20, and De’Aaron Fox kept the Texans alive during the second half, even managing to establish an eight-point lead at the start of the final quarter.

"Honestly, I think it was even harder without Wembanyama," explained Edwards. "With him, they play slower. When a team loses its best player, the rest play more freely and with more confidence."

Minnesota coach Chris Finch considered that his team's relaxation was more mental than tactical, admitting that the Timberwolves "lost their way" for several minutes, allowing San Antonio to stay competitive.

But in the crucial stretch, Edwards appeared. The shooting guard played all 12 minutes of the final quarter and scored 16 of his total 36 points, leading Minnesota's definitive comeback.

His most important basket came with 2:24 remaining, after grabbing an offensive rebound, attacking the paint again, and finishing with a layup over Luke Kornet.

Wembanyama's absence completely opened up the paint for the Timberwolves. Rudy Gobert converted two 2+1 plays in the final minutes, Ayo Dosunmu added a crucial layup, and Naz Reid made an offensive rebound that practically sealed the game.

The Wolves' Strategy

Minnesota constantly attacked the rim after the French player's ejection. According to ESPN data, the Timberwolves attempted 38 shots in the paint, their second-highest figure since Finch took over, and 30 of those attempts came after Wembanyama's ejection.

"Everyone knows the paint is much more open when he's not on the court," commented Edwards. "He's like eight feet tall, so he always protects the paint."

Moreover, Minnesota's leader's performance was even more impressive given his physical condition. Just 15 days after suffering a hyperextension in his left knee and a severe bone bruise, Edwards played over 40 minutes for the second consecutive game. The series will now move to San Antonio for a crucial fifth game to be played on Tuesday night.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Un gran Anthony Edwards lidera a los Wolves ante los Spurs (2-2)