Wolves Steal Game 1 From Spurs
Minnesota stole Game 1 in San Antonio, surviving Victor Wembanyama’s 12-block triple-double behind Anthony Edwards’ return and Julius Randle’s late work.
Wolves Steal Game 1 From Spurs
SAN ANTONIO, May 6, 2026 - Game 1 between Minnesota and San Antonio had the strange shape of a playoff game that one player nearly bent out of reality. Victor Wembanyama blocked everything in sight. The Timberwolves still walked out with the win.
Minnesota beat San Antonio 104-102 on Monday night at Frost Bank Center, stealing home-court advantage in the Western Conference semifinals. Julius Randle led the Wolves with 21 points and 10 rebounds, Anthony Edwards returned much earlier than expected to score 18 off the bench, and Minnesota survived Julian Champagnie's missed 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Wembanyama's line was historic even in defeat: 11 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and an NBA postseason-record 12 blocks. He had seven blocks by halftime and 10 by late in the third quarter. The Spurs had 14 blocks as a team, and still lost because Minnesota kept the ball secure, kept rebounding, and finally found enough offense in the fourth quarter.
Why Minnesota Won
The game crawled for three quarters, exactly the kind of environment San Antonio can make miserable. Minnesota scored 24, 21, and 24 in the first three periods, and almost every drive seemed to end with a Wembanyama arm appearing from somewhere it should not have been able to reach.
Then the fourth quarter changed the game. Minnesota scored 35 in the final period, its best offensive stretch of the night, and that burst mattered because it did not come from one clean matchup. Randle muscled through difficult possessions. Edwards, who entered with 6:53 left in the first quarter after being expected to miss at least the first two games of the series, gave Minnesota a jolt of shot creation. Mike Conley went 4-for-7 from three and gave the Wolves the kind of low-mistake direction that matters when every possession feels trapped.
San Antonio still had the last real chance. Devin Vassell's steal and Dylan Harper's layup cut the lead to 104-102 with 31 seconds left. Randle missed on the next possession, and the Spurs got Champagnie a look for the win. It missed. That was the game: San Antonio created enough chaos to make Minnesota uncomfortable, but not enough offense to cash it in.
Online reaction was almost split in two. Spurs fans could point to a once-in-a-generation defensive line and a final shot to win. Wolves fans could point to the road win, Edwards' return, and the feeling that Minnesota left plenty on the table while still stealing Game 1.
NBA full Game 1 highlights: Timberwolves at Spurs, May 4, 2026.
Box Score
Team Box Score
Final: Minnesota Timberwolves 104, San Antonio Spurs 102
- Quarter scoring: Minnesota 24-21-24-35; San Antonio 23-22-27-30. Minnesota's 35-point fourth quarter was the difference.
- Shooting: Minnesota 41-for-90 FG, 10-for-26 3P, 12-for-21 FT; San Antonio 39-for-87 FG, 10-for-36 3P, 14-for-18 FT.
- Possession battle: Minnesota had 58 rebounds and 13 turnovers. San Antonio had 52 rebounds, 24 assists, 14 turnovers, and 14 blocks.
- Series: Minnesota leads 1-0. Game 2 is Wednesday in San Antonio.
Minnesota Timberwolves Leaders
- Julius Randle: 21 PTS, 10 REB, 5 OREB. Not elegant, but central to Minnesota surviving the half court.
- Anthony Edwards: 18 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST, 8-13 FG in 25:15 off the bench. A surprise return that changed the game’s emotional temperature.
- Jaden McDaniels: 16 PTS, 5 REB, 7-14 FG.
- Terrence Shannon Jr.: 16 PTS, 5 REB, 6-8 FT.
- Mike Conley: 12 PTS, 6 AST, 4-7 3P, 0 TO.
- Naz Reid: 12 PTS, 9 REB, 2-3 3P.
San Antonio Spurs Leaders
- Victor Wembanyama: 11 PTS, 15 REB, 5 AST, 12 BLK. A playoff-record block total in a two-point loss.
- Dylan Harper: 18 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST off the bench, including the layup that cut the game to two late.
- Julian Champagnie: 17 PTS, 7 REB, 3-7 3P. Missed the final look for the win.
- Stephon Castle: 17 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, 3-5 3P.
- Devin Vassell: 14 PTS, 5 REB, 3 STL.
What It Means
This was the kind of loss San Antonio can study without spiraling. The Spurs defended well enough to win, Wembanyama was overwhelming, and they still had the final shot. But Game 1 also showed the cost of depending on defense to solve everything. A 10-for-36 night from three left too much pressure on late broken plays.
Minnesota leaves with the more useful lesson: it can win ugly in San Antonio. The Wolves still need more efficient offense, and they cannot assume Edwards' knee will feel the same every night, but they have already taken home-court advantage away. In a series that looks like it will punish every lazy possession, that is not small.