In Minneapolis, it was one of those games that goes beyond basketball. Anthony Edwards delivered a 36-point performance and led the Minnesota Timberwolves to a crucial 114-109 win over the San Antonio Spurs, evening the Western Conference semifinal series at 2-2.
But the story of the night was not only on the stat sheet.
“I wanted to win for my mother”
Right after the game, Edwards immediately shifted the focus away from basketball and toward the personal meaning of the night.
Today is Mother’s Day. I just wanted to win for my mother, that’s all
Anthony Edwards
His mother, Yvette Edwards, passed away in 2015 after battling cancer, followed eight months later by his grandmother Shirley. Since then, the No. 5 he wears has carried a specific meaning: both passed away on the fifth day of the month. A detail that became part of his identity.
Yeah, I thought about my mother today. I couldn’t lose this game
Anthony Edwards
Spurs in control… then the turning point
The game changed in the second quarter when Victor Wembanyama came under review after elbowing Naz Reid. After officials looked at the play, the ruling was severe: flagrant 2 and immediate ejection.
Honestly, I think it was even harder for us without him. With him on the floor, they’re a really good team, but they play slower. When their best player is out, everyone else plays freer and with more confidence
Anthony Edwards
As the game tightened, the Timberwolves shifted gears and began taking control of the paint. That is where the contest truly swung, with Minnesota raising its intensity and finding consistency around the rim, flipping the momentum when it mattered most.
Through it all, Edwards completely took over the spotlight. He played all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter and scored 16 points in the final period alonebecoming the clear engine of the comeback.
The physical context should not be overlooked either: recently back from a knee issue, Edwards still logged more than 40 minutes for the second straight gameonce again establishing himself as the team’s primary force. The series now shifts to San Antonio for Game 5, scheduled for Tuesday night.
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