Timberwolves edge Spurs in Anthony Edwards' return: Game 1 highlights

The second round of the 2026 NBA playoffs tipped off Monday, and a huge injury that loomed pregame gave way to an intense opener to the Timberwolves-Spurs series.

Minnesota's All-Star guard Anthony Edwards had been dealing with a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise that he suffered in Game 4 of the first round and caused him to miss the final two games of that series against the Nuggets, but he was back in action in Game 1. Despite coming off the bench on a minutes restriction, Edwards sparked the Timberwolves with 18 points to a 104-102 win over the Spurs to steal the first game on the road.

USA TODAY Sports provided updates regarding Anthony Edwards’ status, as well as Game 1 analysis and highlights:

Victor Wembanyama gets a triple double

Wemby already had a big night with his 12 blocks setting a new NBA playoff record, but he added to that when he slammed home a two-hand dunk with 30 seconds left in the game to get a triple-double in Game 1. He finished the night with 11 points, 15 rebounds, 12 blocks and 5 assists in the loss to Minnesota.

Timberwolves vs. Spurs Game 1 highlights

FINAL: Timberwolves take Game 1 with 104-102 win in San Antonio

Julian Champagnie's last-second three doinked off the rim as the final buzzer sounded to seal a dramatic two-point win for Minnesota, who rode a strong early fourth quarter and held off a late rally from the Spurs to steal one on the road.

Julius Randle had a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds while Anthony Edwards got hot with 11 second-half points to put him at 18 total on the night with three rebounds and three assists.

Stephon Castle fouls out

The Spurs will have to go without tonight's leading scorer for the final stretch as Stephon Castle was called for a blocking foul on Terrence Shannon, Jr. — his sixth — with 3:20 left in the game. Castle exits with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists just as San Antonio was mounting a rally and had gotten within six points of the Timberwolves.

The Timberwolves are closing strong

Minnesota has started the fourth quarter on a heater, going 10-of-13 (76.9%) to open the period. It has showed up on the defensive end, too, with Minnesota picking up full-court pressure to slow San Antonio down.

The Timberwolves have opened their biggest lead of the night, 95-86, with 4:41 left to play.

Anthony Edwards is heating up in the fourth

Edwards already has 11 points in the fourth quarter, as he's aggressively looking to attack the paint. He now has 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting, and the Timberwolves have taken an 88-84 lead with 6:49 left to play.

Anthony Edwards starts the fourth quarter on the floor

His minutes restriction was likely structured so that he would be available for most, if not all, of the fourth quarter. Edwards has already canned a pair of 3-pointers in the period, including one over Victor Wembanyama.

Back-and-forth battle tightens up as we head to the fourth

The Timberwolves shot just 9-of-24 (37.5%) from the field in the third quarter, but are down by just three points, 72-69.

Jaden McDaniels' defense on De'Aaron Fox continues to be superb, as Fox has just 2 points on 1-of-7 shooting through three quarters.

Victor Wembanyama, meanwhile, is 2 points away from a triple-double, as he enters the fourth with 8 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks. One area where he's struggling is from the perimeter, where he has missed all 7 of his 3-point attempts.

The Wembanyama block party continues

Victor Wembanyama is now up to 10 blocks, which means he's very likely to reach a rare points-rebounds-blocks triple-double, given that he also has 8 points and 10 rebounds thus far.

Wemby dunks on Rudy Gobert

Wembanyama wasted no time getting the Frost Bank Center crowd on its feet in the second half when he got the ball at the top of the key, stood in front of Gobert, and dribbled to his left towards the basket. Gobert gave chase and rose up for a block, but Wemby finished with a strong jam over his mentor and French national team teammate.

Naz Reid shaken up at end of first half

Reid had one of the biggest moments of the second quarter when he dropped a left-handed floater over Victor Wembanyama to tie the game with a minute to go before halftime, but things quickly took a turn for the worse.

Reid, who has seven points and five rebounds in Game 2, was visibly in pain and grabbing his shoulder on the court after he attempted a full court shot at the buzzer.

There has yet to be an official update on his status, but he looks to be okay and was seen getting shots up normally shortly before the start of the second half.

HALFTIME: Timberwolves, Spurs tied 45-45

It's been a tough, physical matchup through the first two quarters as Minnesota and San Antonio have battled to a deadlock at halftime. Anthony Edwards leads the Wolves with seven points, three rebounds and two assists in 11 minutes.

It's been a balanced scoring effort from both sides; rookie Dylan Harper (11 points) and Stephon Castle (10 points) are the only players in double figures. Victor Wembanyama has six points, seven rebounds and eight blocks so far.

Anthony Edwards sparks Timberwolves run to end first quarter

Ant-man quickly announced his arrival with a turnaround fadeaway from the post on DeAaron Fox to score his first points of the series and followed it up by catching Keldon Johnson slipping off a screen for a three-pointer to give Minnesota the lead and cap off a 12-2 run in the final minutes of the first quarter.

Edwards has five points on two shots with a rebound and an assist as the Timberwolves lead the Spurs 23-22.

Anthony Edwards enters game in first quarter

Edwards officially made his return to the floor when he checked into the game at the six-minute mark of the first quarter following a timeout.

Wemby, Gobert trade blocks in first minute

We are underway at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, and French bigs Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert have each started the game by trading a pair of emphatic blocks: Wemby reached from behind to deny a slashing layup from Terrence Shannon Jr., and Gobert responded on the ensuing possession with a block on Julian Champagnie.

Timberwolves full starting lineup for Game 1

Anthony Edwards will be coming off the bench in his return tonight. Here's the starting five Minnesota will be rolling with for Game 1 in San Antonio:

• Mike Conley
• Terrence Shannon, Jr.
• Jaden McDaniels
• Julius Randle
• Rudy Gobert

Anthony Edwards upgraded to available for Game 1

The Minnesota Timberwolves just made it official, listing Anthony Edwards as available for Game 1 vs. the San Antonio Spurs on their 8:30 p.m. ET injury report.

Anthony Edwards to play Game 1 on a minutes restriction

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said before tip-off that Edwards would play Monday night on a minutes restriction.

“He’s in,” Finch told reporters about 90 minutes before the game.

It’s a remarkably quick turnaround from the injury, which typically requires around a month of recovery time. Edwards suffered the injury nine days ago, during Game 4 of Minnesota’s first-round series versus the Denver Nuggets.

How to watch Timberwolves vs. Spurs Game 1

• Date: Monday, May 4
• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. local)
• Location: Frost Bank Center (San Antonio, Texas)
• TV: NBCSN
• Streaming: Peacock

Anthony Edwards now 'expected to play' in Game 1

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Edwards is "expected to play" unless he suffers a pregame setback. He reportedly tried multiple treatments, including hyperbaric chamber sessions, so that he could expedite his return. The four-time NBA All-Star has made "unforeseen progress" to get clearance, per Charania, nine days after he first suffered his injury.

What is latest status for Anthony Edwards ahead of Game 1?

Edwards remains questionable for Game 1 vs. the San Antonio Spurs on the Minnesota Timberwolves' latest injury report as of 6:45 p.m. ET.

Who is else is injured for the Timberwolves ahead of series vs. Spurs?

Guard Ayo Dosunmu has been downgraded to Out for Game 1 vs. the San Antonio Spurs Monday night with right calf soreness. Dosunmu missed Minnesota's Game 6 clinching victory over the Denver Nuggets with the injury after starting Game 5.

Report: Edwards 'significant participant' in morning shootaround

ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Edwards was a significant participant in the Timberwolves' morning shootaround Monday, May 4, and "wants to return in Game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs." According to Charania, "Edwards is pushing to play, but he and the team's medical staff will make a decision later today."

Is Anthony Edwards playing tonight vs. Spurs?

It’s still unclear, but the Timberwolves did get some significantly positive updates ahead of the game.

On Sunday, May 3, the Timberwolves announced that Edwards had been cleared for on-court basketball activities and indicated that Edwards would be listed as questionable on the injury report for Game 1 against the Spurs.

And when that first injury report was published, Minnesota indeed had listed him as questionable.

Still, that doesn’t mean that Edwards will play Monday night, and he presumably still needs to clear several hurdles to be activated. And, even if Edwards can’t go Monday night, this is a massively good sign for his eventual availability in the series.

If Edwards misses only two games with the issue, it will be a remarkably quick recovery for this type of injury.

On Dec. 29, Nuggets All-Star center Nikola Jokić similarly sustained a hyperextended left knee and bone bruise in a loss against the Miami Heat. To recover from that injury, Jokić missed 16 games, which covered the span of a month.

Anthony Edwards injury

The injury ocurred with 2:45 left in the first half, when Edwards jumped vertically to defend a Cameron Johnson layup during a fastbreak drive. When Edwards landed, his left knee appeared to hyperextend as his weight came down, and he immediately grabbed at the area, writhing in apparent discomfort. Edwards slapped the court a few times in obvious frustration.

Athletic trainers rushed over as Edwards popped up to his feet. The trainers helped Edwards hobble off the floor, as he did not put any weight on the injured leg.

The trainers helped him toward the tunnel, though they didn’t immediately usher Edwards to the locker room, momentarily examining him in the tunnel.

Anthony Edwards stats

In 61 games this season, Edwards averaged a career-high 28.8 points (which ranked third in the NBA behind only Luka Dončić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. His field goal percentage (48.9%) and 3-point percentage (39.9%) were also career bests.

In February, he was selected to his fourth consecutive All-Star team.

Contributing: Bryan Kalbrosky