{"id":727937,"date":"2026-05-07T09:30:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T09:30:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/727937\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T09:30:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T09:30:16","slug":"anthony-edwards-timberwolves-suffer-their-worst-playoff-loss-as-victor-wembanyama-co-break-43-year-old-spurs-record","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/727937\/","title":{"rendered":"Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves Suffer Their Worst Playoff Loss as Victor Wembanyama & Co. Break 43-Year-Old Spurs Record"},"content":{"rendered":"

The San Antonio Spurs<\/a> didn\u2019t just bounce back in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals; they rewrote the history books at the expense of an uncharacteristically undisciplined Minnesota Timberwolves<\/a> squad. Following a narrow, gritty loss in the series opener that warranted Gregg Popovich\u2019s intervention, the Spurs unleashed a carnage of two-way dominance on Thursday night, coasting to a 133-95 victory. The blowout presented a double-edged sword for the Wolves, who probably didn\u2019t plan to suffer an undesirable franchise record with tonight\u2019s laid-back approach. For the Spurs, on the other hand, they\u2019re right back in Pop\u2019s era of record-breakers.<\/p>\n

The 38-point gap in tonight\u2019s final score handed Anthony Edwards<\/a> and the Timberwolves the largest postseason loss in franchise history, eclipsing their previous record of 30 points. For San Antonio<\/a>, the win was a storied franchise\u2019s vintage offensive explosion, marking the team\u2019s highest scoring output in a playoff game since a 40-point blowout of the Denver Nuggets<\/a> in 1983.<\/p>\n

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At the center of the historic storm was Victor Wembanyama<\/a>, who continues to make the impossible look routine with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 2 blocks tonight. With a dominant interior performance, Wemby became the fastest player in NBA history to reach 100+ points and 30+ blocks in the playoffs. His presence anchored a defense that completely suffocated the Timberwolves from the opening tip.<\/p>\n

Unlike Game 1, where the Spurs struggled offensively and indecisively, Game 2 featured cleaner actions, elite ball movement, and a level of composure that belied the roster\u2019s youth.<\/p>\n

The Spurs flipped the script on Minnesota\u2019s physicality, forcing 22 turnovers and holding the Wolves to a staggering 35 points at halftime, which also marks another unwanted record: their lowest-scoring half of the entire season, regular or postseason.<\/p>\n

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Spurs Game 2 readjustments put pressure on Anthony Edwards<\/p>\n

The drastic shift in momentum can be traced back to the Spurs\u2019 reset in the practice facility immediately after Game 1. The surprise presence of Gregg Popovich in the film room<\/a> alongside current head coach Mitch Johnson clearly instilled a sense of championship urgency that was missing in the opener.<\/p>\n

The Wolves entered the game lacking the same urgency, as evidenced by the laid-back veteran demeanor. Maybe they felt cushioned by their road split while the Spurs played with the desperation of a team that refused to go down 0-2.<\/p>\n

The disparity was evident from the jump: Minnesota turned the ball over on its first three possessions, setting the tone for a night when it simply could not find the basket. The Wolves\u2019 offensive struggles were historic. They finished the first half shooting a dismal 14-of-47 from the field and a cold 2-of-15 from beyond the arc.<\/p>\n

Evidence of the Spurs\u2019 adjustment in Game 2 was reflected in the young upstart, Stephon Castle<\/a>. After battling foul trouble in Game 1, Castle remained composed while maintaining his trademark aggression. \u201cWe saw a lot of self-inflicted mistakes,\u201d Castle noted regarding the Game 1 loss. \u201cThey were small at the time, but for the big goal, hurt us a lot more than it did in the moment. We are trying to fix little things.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Those \u201clittle things\u201d were fixed as Castle showed remarkable composure in Game 2 for someone in his first postseason against real playoff contenders (because, let\u2019s face it, Portland didn\u2019t give the Spurs much playoff stripes). His new mindset translated into a defensive trap that left Anthony Edwards, who is currently playing through a lingering injury and minutes restriction, without his usual explosive first step.<\/a><\/p>\n

While Castle had 21 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, Ant was slower with 12 points tonight. Even De\u2019Aaron Fox<\/a> redeemed himself with a 16-point showing.<\/p>\n

By the time the fourth quarter arrived, the game had devolved into a pure garbage-time affair with the Spurs leading 104-66. Minnesota coach Chris Finch, widely regarded as the top tactical mind in these playoffs, benched his starters to preserve them for the trip home, effectively throwing in the towel for Game 2.<\/p>\n

The Timberwolves now face a daunting task as the series shifts to Minneapolis. While the Spurs have successfully addressed their execution issues, the pressure remains on the young squad to prove it can win in a hostile road environment against a veteran Wolves team featuring battle-tested leaders and a championship-caliber coaching staff.<\/p>\n

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To spark a comeback in Game 3, Minnesota will likely re-establish its physicality in the interior. The Spurs should expect a much more disciplined Timberwolves offense that prioritizes ball security and seeks to pull Wembanyama away from the rim<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, after breaking a 43-year-old franchise record, San Antonio has proven that their \u2018rebuilding around Wemby\u2019 phase has officially graduated into a championship-standard pursuit.<\/p>\n

The post Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves Suffer Their Worst Playoff Loss as Victor Wembanyama & Co. Break 43-Year-Old Spurs Record<\/a> appeared first on EssentiallySports<\/a>. Add EssentiallySports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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