Victor Wembanyama ejected for elbow to Naz Reid, Wolves beat Spurs 114-109 in Game 4
Timberwolves after Game 4 win over Spurs: 'Size matters'
Timberwolves players Julius Randle, Mike Conley Jr. and Rudy Gobert spoke from the locker room after Sunday night's 114-109 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals at Target Center. The series is now tied 2-2, and the Spurs had to play small after Victor Wembanyama's second quarter ejection. Gobert said, "size matters."
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The Minnesota Timberwolves rallied from down eight in the fourth quarter to beat the San Antonio Spurs 114-109 Sunday night in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals at Target Center.
The Spurs were without star Victor Wembanyama for the last 2.5 quarters.
Timberwolves win Game 4
How it happened:
The Timberwolves have evened the best-of-seven series 2-2 as it heads back to San Antonio Tuesday night. Anthony Edwards had 16 of his game-high 36 points in the fourth quarter, and the Spurs lost Victor Wembanyama to an ejection with 8:39 to play in the first half. Wembanyama threw an elbow at Naz Reid, and the NBA will likely review the play to see if it warrants a suspension.
The Timberwolves won the fourth quarter 34-25 after trailing by as many as eight points to earn the victory after a rough third quarter.
Naz Reid on Victor Wembanyama's elbow: 'Pain is weakness leaving the body'
Timberwolves players Anthony Edwards, Ayo Dosunmu and Naz Reid react after a 114-109 win over the Spurs in Game 4 Sunday night to even the series 2-2. Reid reacted to a second quarter elbow that got Victor Wembanyama ejected for a flagrant 2 foul.
Anthony Edwards dedicates win to late mother
What they're saying:
Edwards made every play he could in the fourth quarter to rally the Timberwolves from down eight to a five-point victory. Along with 36 points, he had six rebounds and two assists. He's playing with pain in both knees, but at the postgame podium, dedicated the win to his mother. Sunday is Mother's Day, and Edwards lost his mother and grandmother in 2015.
"Today is Mother’s Day and I just wanted to win for my mom. It was just that simple. I couldn’t lose this game for sure," Edwards said.
Naz Reid: ‘Pain is weakness leaving the body’
The backstory:
Naz Reid was tough as nails for the Timberwolves in the Game 4 win. He finished with 15 points, nine rebounds, four assists and one steal, and took a brutal elbow from Victor Wembanyama early in the second quarter. He and Jaden McDaniels were battling for a rebound when Wembanyama blasted Reid with an elbow to the face with 8:39 to go in the first half.
Wembanyama was ejected after getting a flagrant 2 foul. Reid took the worst of it, and also battled a sprained ankle in the fourth quarter.
"Pain is weakness leaving the body, that’s it," Reid said as he grimaced at the postgame podium.
Timberwolves rally to beat Spurs 114-109, even series 2-2
The Timberwolves rallied from down eight in the fourth quarter to beat the San Antonio Spurs 114-109 in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals Sunday night at Target Center after Victor Wembanyama got ejected in the second quarter. The series is even at 2-2. Minnesota coach Chris Finch spoke with reporters after the win.
Ayo Dosunmu preserves game with late inbound rescue
The Timberwolves were up 112-109, but stuck in their own backcourt with only 1.5 seconds to get it across or risk a turnover with less than nine seconds to play. McDaniels heaved a pass that Ayo Dosunmu went up for. It bounces off his hands and a foot before he was able to corral it without going out of bounds. He got fouled, made two free throws and it preserved what could've been a disastrous finish.
Dosunmu finished with 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals, and made one of the biggest plays of the night.
"I just wanted to make a play, the magnitude of the game, had 1.5 seconds to get it over. When the ball was in the air, I just wanted to go up there and try to come down with it," Dosunmu said.
"Roddy White. Atlanta Falcons, 84," Anthony Edwards joked.
Timberwolves trail Spurs 84-80 after 3
The Spurs have found their footing since losing Victor Wembanyama in the second quarter to an ejection, and the Timberwolves trail 84-80 after three. The Timberwolves had a dreadful third quarter, being out-scored 28-20. Stephon Castle, De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper have combined for 54 points.
At one point, the Timberwolves were 4-of-17 shooting from the field and committed four turnovers. If the Timberwolves don’t come back to beat the Spurs, they’ll be down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series and face elimination Tuesday night in San Antonio, and Wembanyama will be well-rested.
Timberwolves lead Spurs 60-56 at half
With the help of a Victor Wembanyama ejection in the second quarter, the Timberwolves lead the Spurs 60-56 at half of Game 4 at Target Center. Anthony Edwards has a game-high 18 points, but the Spurs have kept it close by shooting 50% from the field in the opening 24 minutes.
Wembanyama was ejected with 8:39 left to play in the first half after elbowing Naz Reid in the face.
Stephon Castle leads the Spurs with 14 points.
Victor Wembanyama ejected for elbow on Naz Reid
Victor Wembanyama was ejected from Game 4 during the second quarter, a potentially game-altering play that should give the Timberwolves a huge boost on both ends of the floor. Wembanyama was battling for a rebound with Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels when he wound up and elbowed Reid in the face with 8:39 left in the first half.
After a lengthy video review, Wembanyama was assessed a flagrant 2 foul, which is an automatic ejection. He left the game with just four points and four rebounds.
Timberwolves lead Spurs 34-30 after 1
The Timberwolves got off to another slow start offensively, but went on a 13-3 run midway through the first quarter and have a 34-30 lead. Anthony Edwards is off to a fast start with 11 points, and Mike Conley Jr. provided a spark off the bench with six points.
Victor Wembanyama has just four points after one quarter, and has taken only four shots in nine minutes.
Game 5 tip time set
Timeline:
The Timberwolves announced before Sunday's game that Monday night's Game 5 in San Antonio is set for a 7 p.m. tip-off. If the Timberwolves win Sunday night, the series is tied 2-2, and Game 5 becomes the swing game.
Chris Finch calls Tony Brothers’ actions ‘pretty unprofessional’
The backstory:
It’s not unusual to see a beef between teams and officials in the NBA, especially in the playoffs. But it’s not everyday you see an official do the confronting.
That’s what happened during the fourth quarter of Game 3 Friday night. Tony Brothers, who has been officiating in the NBA for more than three decades, had to be held back by Timberwolves’ players and staff during a confrontation with Chris Finch over a timeout. After the game, Finch called out Brothers.
"Pretty unprofessional, huh? I wanted the timeout and I had called it three seconds earlier. I wanted the timeout, and I said ‘I want my three seconds back.’ He clearly heard me, he looked my way and ignored me, went on with the play and almost cost us a turnover," Finch said. "He lost it, then I went to ask where the ball was going to be taken in and he screamed at me for that. Completely unprofessional behavior by him."