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Timberwolves strike against Spurs, Knicks crush 76ers
AP •  May 5th, 2026 5:05 pm
Victor Wembanyama | Photo: AP
Anthony Edwards has made an unexpected return from injury to steer Minnesota to a gripping two-point win over San Antonio in the opening game of the Western Conference semi-finals.
Edwards scored 18 points as the Timberwolves overcame a huge game by Victor Wembanyama to post a 104-102 win on Tuesday (NZ time).
Wembanyama had 11 points and 15 rebounds and set an NBA post-season record with 12 blocks.
He's the third player to get a triple-double in the playoffs including blocks since the league began tracking blocks in 1973-74.
San Antonio cut the deficit to 104-102 on a steal by Devin Vassell and layup by Dylan Harper with 31 seconds remaining.
Following a miss by Minnesota's Julius Randle, Julian Champagnie couldn't connect on a 3-pointer at the buzzer as San Antonio suffered only their second loss in their last 17 series openers at home.
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Randle finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves. Harper scored 18 points and Champagnie and Stephon Castle had 17 each for the Spurs.
Edwards was expected to miss at least the first two games of the series after suffering a bone bruise and hyperextending his left knee on April 25 during Game 4 of Minnesota's opening-round series against Denver.
Instead, Edwards worked diligently to return with guards Donte DiVincenzo (torn right Achilles tendon) and Ayo Dosunmu (right calf soreness) out with injuries.
Earlier in New York, Jalen Brunson scored 27 of his 35 points in the first half as the Knicks overwhelmed the Philadelphia 76ers 137-98 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
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The Knicks became the first team in NBA history to win three straight post-season games by at least 25 points, continuing a wave that began midway through the first round against Atlanta by shooting 63 per cent from the field and leading by 40 points.
"We're playing well, but it doesn't mean anything if we can't find a way to get three more wins," Knicks centre Karl-Anthony Towns said. "So, we've just got to stick to the task at hand."
OG Anunoby added 18 points on seven-for-eight shooting, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges both had 17, with Towns adding six rebounds and six assists in just 20 minutes.
After trailing 2-1 against Atlanta, the Knicks have won four straight games by a total of 135 points. They are the first team since detailed play-by-play began in 1996-97 to lead three straight playoff games by at least 30 points.
Game 2 is Thursday before the series shifts to Philadelphia, with Joel Embiid already pleading with 76ers fans not to sell their tickets to Knicks fans when it does.
Paul George scored 17 points for Philadelphia while Embiid shot just three for 11 for his 14 points.
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