Victor Wembanyama set an NBA postseason record with 12 blocks, but the Spurs fell 104-102 to the Timberwolves in Game 1 in San Antonio.
Victor Wembanyama turned in a historic defensive performance Monday night, setting an NBA postseason record with 12 blocks, but the San Antonio Spurs still fell 104-102 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinals series.
Wembanyama finished with 11 points, 15 rebounds and 12 blocks at Frost Bank Center, becoming just the third player to record a playoff triple-double that included blocks since the league began tracking the statistic in the 1973-74 season. The 12 blocks stood as the headline number from a game San Antonio nearly stole, but Minnesota left with the series lead.
The Spurs forward showed the defensive reach that has defined his young career, yet he was less efficient on the other end. He shot 5-for-17 from the field as San Antonio came up two points short in the opener.
“We have to be better,” Wembanyama said after the loss. “It shows up on the stat sheet. We need to figure out before 48 hours what we can do better, and I’ve got no doubt that we will. I trust us.”
Minnesota’s win was helped by the early return of Anthony Edwards, who had been expected to miss the first two games of the series after suffering a bone bruise and hyperextended left knee in Game 4 of the Timberwolves’ first-round series against the Denver Nuggets.
Instead, Edwards was back on the floor for Game 1 and scored 18 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter. His late offense helped Minnesota withstand Wembanyama’s shot-blocking surge and hand San Antonio only its second loss in its last 17 home series openers.
Timberwolves guard Mike Conley said Edwards’ return was not something the team had counted on so soon. “Nobody expected him to play,” Conley said. “It was just his level of commitment to the game. Not just to the game, but to his teammates. It showed a lot.”
The Spurs will try to even the series in Game 2 on Wednesday night in San Antonio. Tipoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET.
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