The Minnesota Timberwolves managed to even their second-round NBA playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs with a thrilling 114-109 victory in Game 4, but the game will be remembered as much for what happened early as for the final score. Anthony Edwards delivered a stellar performance, scoring 16 of his game-high 36 points in the fourth quarter to guide his team to a much-needed win.
The pivotal moment came early in the second quarter when Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama was ejected after being assessed a Flagrant 2 foul for striking Naz Reid in the neck with an elbow. The 7-foot-4 rookie’s frustration boiled over, and his departure left San Antonio scrambling to adjust. Reid, who took the brunt of the contact, finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, helping the Timberwolves weather some shaky stretches.
Edwards provided the spark when it mattered most. With the Timberwolves trailing 94-91, he drilled a 27-foot three-pointer and turned to the crowd, urging them to raise the energy. His clutch catch-and-shoot triple from the wing with 5:12 remaining gave Minnesota a 98-97 lead—their first advantage since midway through the third quarter.
Without Wembanyama patrolling the paint, the Timberwolves’ big men took control. Rudy Gobert converted a three-point play off a slick pass from Reid with 3:02 left, then threw down a powerful dunk for a 107-101 lead with 1:56 to go after a feed from Julius Randle. Gobert finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds, anchoring the defense. Reid’s putback with 40 seconds remaining pushed the lead to seven, giving Minnesota breathing room.
The Spurs didn’t go quietly. Dylan Harper came up with a rebound, drew a foul, made a steal, and sank two free throws to pull San Antonio within three. Ayo Dosunmu sealed the win with two foul shots with 9.8 seconds left, tying the series at two games apiece.
San Antonio’s guards stepped up admirably in Wembanyama’s absence. Harper and De’Aaron Fox each scored 24 points, while Stephon Castle added 20, turning the game into a mid-range clinic with pull-up jumpers from every angle. The Spurs will host Game 5 on Tuesday, but Wembanyama’s status remains uncertain as the league reviews the Flagrant 2 foul that led to his automatic ejection.
The Target Center crowd erupted when Wembanyama was sent to the locker room, but the Timberwolves couldn’t fully capitalize on his absence—a familiar pattern for a team that has struggled to maintain leads. Still, with Edwards firing on all cylinders and the series now tied, Minnesota has a chance to seize momentum on the road.