Anthony Edwards banked in a go-ahead 3-foot runner with 16.8 seconds remaining as the Minnesota Timberwolves completed a stunning comeback from 19 points down to beat the San Antonio Spurs 104-103 on Sunday night.
Edwards finished with 23 points and delivered the decisive basket after giving Minnesota its first lead moments earlier. Julius Randle added 15 points and eight rebounds and came up with the game’s defining defensive stand, forcing Victor Wembanyama into a missed 16-foot jumper with 6.6 seconds left.
De’Aaron Fox’s desperation 3-point attempt at the buzzer also came up short, igniting a celebration from the Minnesota crowd after a tense, back-and-forth finish between Western Conference contenders.
Donte DiVincenzo provided a major spark off the bench with 19 points as the Timberwolves erased the deficit, which had reached 19 early in the third quarter. Minnesota improved to 26-14 and 16-6 since Thanksgiving.
Edwards put the Wolves ahead 100-98 on a turnaround jumper with 2:19 remaining, but Harrison Barnes briefly restored the Spurs’ lead with a 3-pointer before Edwards’ final heroics.
Wembanyama scored 29 points in 27 minutes in his return to San Antonio’s starting lineup and finished plus-17 with seven rebounds and three steals. The 7-foot-4 French star, playing under a minutes restriction after a knee hyperextension, battled Randle late but couldn’t shake him on the final possession.
Naz Reid recorded 17 points and 11 rebounds for Minnesota, which played without head coach Chris Finch due to illness. Assistant coach Micah Nori took over on the sideline as the Wolves endured a brutal start, falling behind 16-0 and not scoring their first basket until nearly five minutes into the game.
The Spurs travel to Oklahoma City on Tuesday night, while the Timberwolves head to Milwaukee on Tuesday to continue their road swing.
