The Minnesota Timberwolves opened the Western Conference semifinals with a 104-102 road win over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night at Frost Bank Center, executing late to take a 1-0 series lead.
Minnesota flipped a three-point deficit entering the fourth quarter by scoring 35 points in the final period, relying on shot creation and timely stops to close the game.
Anthony Edwards provided the offensive spark, finishing with 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting while delivering a step-back three early in the fourth and a series of paint touches that shifted momentum.
Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with 21 points and 10 rebounds, using physicality to generate second-chance opportunities and scoring twice inside the final minute to maintain separation.
The Spurs stayed within one possession in the closing seconds after Dylan Harper’s transition layup cut the deficit to two with 30.9 seconds remaining.
San Antonio had a final chance, but Julian Champagnie missed a contested 26-foot three-pointer at the buzzer, sealing the result.
The game featured 18 lead changes and consistent defensive resistance, with both teams shooting 45% from the field.
Minnesota gained a key edge from beyond the arc, hitting 10-of-26 (38%), while the Spurs struggled at 10-of-36 (28%), limiting their half-court efficiency.
Turnovers also proved decisive, as the Wolves committed just nine compared to 13 by San Antonio, allowing more clean possessions in a tight game.
Rudy Gobert anchored the interior with 10 rebounds, four steals and a block, disrupting entry passes and forcing the Spurs into difficult angles in the paint.
Naz Reid added 12 points and nine rebounds off the bench, including a putback and multiple defensive rebounds during a critical fourth-quarter stretch.
Mike Conley contributed 12 points and six assists, including a late three-pointer that extended Minnesota’s lead to nine with under five minutes remaining.
San Antonio leaned on balanced scoring, with Dylan Harper leading the team with 18 points, while Stephon Castle and Champagnie added 17 each.
Victor Wembanyama posted a rare defensive stat line with 11 points, 15 rebounds and 12 blocks, anchoring a Spurs defense that recorded 14 total blocks.
However, the Spurs struggled to convert efficiently around the rim against Gobert and help defenders, particularly in late-clock situations.
De’Aaron Fox added 10 points and six assists but committed six turnovers, including a key out-of-bounds play during the fourth quarter.
Minnesota’s late-game execution followed a clear structure: high pick-and-roll initiation by Edwards, spacing from shooters, and Randle operating as a secondary scorer inside.
The Timberwolves consistently generated paint touches before kicking out or finishing through contact, a key factor in their fourth-quarter scoring surge.
Game 2 remains in San Antonio, where the Spurs will look to adjust their perimeter shooting and reduce turnovers to even the series.
