Timberwolves secure Game 1 upset over Spurs as Edwards plays through knee injury
The superstar guard credited medical staff for his rapid return but expressed self-dissatisfaction over defensive lapses in the final minutes of the victory.
Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards led his team to an upset victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, playing through a hyperextension and bone bruise in his left knee sustained nine days prior. Scoring 18 points in 25 minutes under a minutes restriction, Edwards defied initial medical targets that had aimed for a return in Games 3 or 4.
Coach Chris Finch described Edwards as "awesome" following the match, while teammate Mike Conley referred to him as a "hero" for returning so quickly to the court. Edwards credited David Hines, the team's vice president of medical operations, for facilitating his rapid return through resistance work and pool running to prevent the knee from stiffening.
Despite the victory, Edwards expressed significant self-dissatisfaction regarding defensive lapses in the final minutes. He specifically highlighted failing to box out Julian Champagnie, who secured two second-chance buckets off offensive rebounds, and mishandling an inbound pass with 33 seconds remaining that allowed the Spurs to cut the lead.
Edwards admitted that his mind was not in the right place during the final two minutes, stating that seventy-five percent of the game relies on mental focus. He acknowledged that a timeout should have been called earlier in the fourth quarter to prevent the Spurs' comeback attempts, noting that he should have been better at taking the ball out of bounds.
The injury occurred on 25 April during a block attempt in Game 4 against the Denver Nuggets, after which the Timberwolves clinched their first-round series victory without Edwards playing. Although listed as questionable for the opener in San Antonio, Edwards cleared for on-court activities shortly before the match, marking a significant deviation from the conservative management plan.
Minnesota holds a 2-1 advantage in the season series against the Spurs heading into this playoff encounter, a statistic that provides context to the upcoming encounter against a team that demonstrated strong offensive efficiency in their first-round campaign.
