Anthony Edwards struck a defiant tone after Minnesota’s season teetered following a lopsided road loss, saying “I don’t see nobody in our locker room that’s too worried” as the Timberwolves face elimination, the report says. Edwards added, “There’s another basketball game. Come out, put your boots on and get ready to go to war.”
The report says the San Antonio Spurs rolled to a pivotal 126-97 Game 5 win, outscoring Minnesota in every quarter to take a 3-2 series lead and posting consecutive dominant home victories in the series. The report says the NBA chose not to suspend Victor Wembanyama after a Game 4 swinging elbow to Naz Reid’s jaw, ruling the ejection in the subsequent loss was sufficient punishment; Wembanyama responded aggressively and had 16 points and five rebounds in the first seven minutes of Game 5.
Minnesota mounted several comebacks in the middle quarters — Jaden McDaniels hit three 3s and Edwards scored 20 points, with the game tied at 61 late in the third — but the Wolves unraveled thereafter. Coach Chris Finch said the team “went away from what was working,” and that the defense “just cratered,” noting a late stretch when San Antonio’s scoring surge was decisive.
Foul trouble again proved costly. The report says McDaniels was hampered by fouls, totaling five and being limited to 30 minutes, and that key sequences throughout the series have been affected by his absences. The report also details struggles from Julius Randle, who went 6 of 17 in Game 5 and was 26 of 71 for the series, a decline from his regular-season shooting percentage noted in the report.
Per ESPN Research, the Spurs dispatched 20 double teams on Edwards, and Minnesota went 6 of 15 and committed five turnovers on those possessions, scoring 13 points over 20 chances. Edwards has logged heavy minutes despite knee pain — 41, 40 and 39 minutes the last three games — and appeared fatigued at times, the report says. The teams get two days off before Game 6 in Minnesota on Friday night; Edwards welcomed the break, saying, “I’m so happy. I’m ready to get two days. I’m excited for it.”
