Timberwolves hold off Spurs 104-102 in Game 1 of Western Conference Semifinals

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the San Antonio Spurs 104-102 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals Monday night as Anthony Edwards returned nine days removed from a bone bruise and hyperextension in his left knee.

The Timberwolves take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, with Game 2 set for Wednesday night in San Antonio.

"That’s kind of a tone-setter for the series. We feel like we can play a lot better, just our scrappiness, our heart, our hustle, our will to win got us through. We left a lot out there, we can play a lot better," forward Julius Randle said.

Anthony Edwards: ‘I got the best physical therapist in the world’

Just nine days after being helped off the Target Center floor with a bone bruise and hyperextended left knee, Anthony Edwards was back on the floor Monday night for Game 1 in San Antonio. He played 25 minutes and came off the bench, which Chris Finch said was the plan all along. Edwards had 11 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter as the Timberwolves rallied for a Game 1 win.

Edwards was expected to miss multiple weeks with his knee injury. He was back in less than two.

"I got the best physical therapist in the world with David Hines. He got me right. I felt great, I don’t think I’m limited at all, whatever coach needs from me. I know for a fact me being out there, it calms everybody down. It takes pressure off everybody knowing I’m out there doing what I do best, just trying to put the ball in the hoop," Edwards said.

"I called him my hero before the game," Timberwolves' guard Mike Conley Jr. said.

Timberwolves hold off Spurs, 104-102

How it happened:

Anthony Edwards scored 11 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, returning from a left knee injury, as the Timberwolves beat the Spurs 104-102 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Edwards played 25 minutes in the win.

"Really good job by our guys just figuring out a way to make enough shots and stick with the defense. Ant was awesome. I forgot how good he was actually," Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said after the win.

The Spurs had a chance for a game-winning shot as time expired, but Julian Champagnie's 3-pointer at the buzzer was short and left. The Timberwolves won the fourth quarter 35-30 to overcome trailing 72-69 after three.

Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with 21 points, and Mike Conley Jr. had 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the perimeter. Terrence Shannon Jr. had 16 points in 34 minutes.

Victor Wembanyama had 11 points, 15 rebounds and an NBA Playoff record 12 blocks, but at least four of them were missed goaltending calls.

Timberwolves trail 72-69 after 3

The Timberwolves trail the Spurs 72-69 after three, and Anthony Edwards played just four minutes in the third quarter. The Timberwolves are going to kick themselves if they lose Game 1, as they’re just 5-of-13 from the free-throw line in a game where they haven’t trailed by more than seven points.

Minnesota had a key sequence go against them in the third quarter. Bones Hyland hit a 3-pointer that would’ve given the Timberwolves the lead, and Rudy Gobert drew a foul away from the ball on the play. But after a review, the foul was before Hyland’s shot, and Gobert missed both free throws.

The Timberwolves are also shooting just 6-of-22 from the perimeter, and Victor Wembanyama has 10 blocks.

Timberwolves, Spurs tied 45-45 at half

The Timberwolves and Spurs are tied 45-45 at half. Eight different players have scored, as Julius Randle, Naz Reid and Anthony Edwards all have seven points each. Jaden McDaniels missed much of the second quarter after being whistled for his third foul. Edwards, coming back from a left knee injury, played 11 minutes in the first half.

As expected, Victor Wembanyama has been a problem for the Timberwolves. He has six points, seven rebounds and eight blocked shots, and is making the Timberwolves think twice about shooting when they enter the lane. Stephon Castle and Dillon Harper have a combined 21 points to lead the Spurs.

Timberwolves lead Spurs 24-23 after 1

The Timberwolves lead the Spurs 24-23 after 1, and the quarter ended with Julius Randle putting Victor Wembanyama on a poster with a dunk in transition.

The Timberwolves have a balanced scoring attack early, as Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels each have six points. McDaniels had to go to the bench late in the first quarter after committing his second foul.

Anthony Edwards did not start, but entered the game with 6:53 left in the quarter. He scored five points, including a step-back 3-pointer that was followed by some trash talk to the Spurs’ bench.

Anthony Edwards not in starting lineup

Timberwolves' star Anthony Edwards is expected to return Monday night against the Spurs, but was not in the starting lineup. The starters were Mike Conley Jr., Terrence Shannon Jr, Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert.

Edwards entered the game with 6:53 left in the first quarter, and is expected to be on a minutes restriction for Game 1.