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Michael C. WrightJan 12, 2026, 12:01 AM ET<\/p>\n
Close<\/a>Joined ESPN in 2010 MINNEAPOLIS — Victor Wembanyama<\/a> and the San Antonio Spurs<\/a> tested Target Center’s tradition of standing until Minnesota makes its first basket by holding the Timberwolves scoreless for nearly five minutes Sunday to start a game they’d still end up losing 104-103<\/a>.<\/p>\n That’s because star guard Anthony Edwards<\/a> spoiled Wembanyama’s first start since New Year’s Eve by hitting a floater with 16.8 seconds left to play as Minnesota rallied from a 19-point deficit. The Timberwolves didn’t seize their first lead until 2:19 remained, when Edwards connected on an 11-foot turnaround fadeaway.<\/p>\n “I didn’t really have it going tonight if I’m being honest,” Edwards said. “Like I told them, ‘I don’t care what happens in the first three quarters. Fourth quarter, three minutes, four minutes left, let me see it. Y’all can have 50 points. But in the fourth quarter, four minutes left, for the rest of the game, let me get it.'”<\/p>\n Edwards scored nine of his team-high 23 points in the fourth quarter on 4-of-5 shooting as Minnesota outscored San Antonio 33-18 in the final frame, putting 11 points on the board off seven Spurs turnovers.<\/p>\n The Timberwolves’ victory marked their fifth in a row against the Spurs, and the 19-point comeback registers as the team’s largest of the season.<\/p>\n “Just keep battling,” said Minnesota forward Julius Randle<\/a>. “We missed a lot of shots. We know we didn’t play really well, particularly offensively. We had it going in spurts, but we missed a lot of shots. Just keep going, keep battling, keep fighting and see what happens.”<\/p>\n Wembanyama scored a game-high 29 points to go with seven rebounds and dominated inside from the onset, snatching away two lobs intended for Rudy Gobert<\/a> as San Antonio sped to a 16-0 lead. Minnesota misfired on its first eight attempts with Wembanyama playing just 3:57 in his first stint, before checking out with 8:03 left in the first quarter.<\/p>\n Edwards would finally score the Timberwolves’ first basket with 7:22 left in the first quarter, thus allowing the stunned crowd of 18,978 to sit down.<\/p>\n “What makes them a tough matchup is they have a knack for turning it on when they get down a little bit or when it gets to crunch time,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “They’re a tough out and I thought they got the better of us obviously for sure in the fourth quarter.”<\/p>\n
\nPreviously covered Bears for ESPN.com
\nPlayed college football at West Texas A&M<\/p>\nAnthony Edwards hit what ended up being the winning basket, skying up for a floater over Spurs center Luke Kornet.\u00a0Photo by David Sherman\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n