Result: Minnesota Ties Series with San Antonio After Wembanyama Ejection
The Timberwolves defeated the Spurs 114-109 in Game 4 of the NBA playoff series. Anthony Edwards scored 36 points, while San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama was ejected for a flagrant-2 foul in the second quarter.
Main Event
The Minnesota Timberwolves rallied to beat the San Antonio Spurs 114-109 in Game 4 of the second-round playoff series, tying the series at 2-2. The game was played on May 10, 2026, at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The pivotal moment came early in the second quarter when Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was ejected for a hard foul on Naz Reid, drastically shifting the momentum.
The outcome was decided by a phenomenal performance from Anthony Edwards, who scored 36 points and was unstoppable in the fourth quarter. The Timberwolves guard shot 13-of-22 from the field, 3-of-5 from three, and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line in 40 minutes. In the final 12 minutes, Edwards was perfect: 6-of-6 from the field, 2-of-2 from beyond the arc, and 2-of-2 from the line, scoring 16 points.
After the game, Edwards dedicated the win to his late mother. "Today is Mother's Day. I just wanted to win for my mom. It was simple... I couldn't lose this game for her," he told reporters. Edwards' mother and grandmother both died of cancer in 2015, and he wears number 5 in memory of them passing on the fifth day of the month.
Details and Statistics
The key moment occurred at the 11:08 mark of the second quarter. After a Spurs miss and an offensive rebound, Wembanyama was tightly surrounded by Reid and Jaden McDaniels, who aggressively pushed him out of the paint. Under pressure, the French center threw an elbow that connected with Reid's throat. The referees immediately called an offensive foul and, after a video review, upgraded it to a Flagrant 2 — for excessive contact above the neck, which carries an automatic ejection.
The Target Center crowd erupted in chants of "Kick him out! Kick him out!" and as Wembanyama left the court shaking hands with teammates, the arena played Michael Jackson's "Beat It." At the time of his ejection, Wembanyama had 4 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 fouls in 13 minutes.
Reid made both free throws after the incident, putting Minnesota ahead 38-34. The Spurs had been leading at the time of the ejection but lost control without their star. Minnesota won the fourth quarter 34-25, erasing an eight-point deficit.
For the Timberwolves, Naz Reid contributed 15 points and 9 rebounds. His aggressive defense was a catalyst for the incident with Wembanyama. For San Antonio, Stephon Castle led the scoring, but his efforts weren't enough.
A notable detail: in the fourth quarter, Edwards was so exhausted that during a timeout he was given an oxygen mask before returning to the court. This was his second straight 40-minute game and his second 30+ point performance in the series.
Context and Significance
The Minnesota-San Antonio matchup is one of the most intense second-round series of the 2026 playoffs. The Timberwolves won Game 1 (104-102), the Spurs dominated Game 2 (133-95), and took Game 3 (115-108) to go up 2-1. Game 4 was a turning point, as Minnesota halted San Antonio's momentum.
The Wembanyama incident highlighted a lingering issue. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson made a controversial statement at the press conference: "I just think that with the physicality he's facing, at some point you have to defend yourself. At some point, they need to protect him, and if they don't, he'll have to do it himself." Johnson implied that officials allow opponents to be overly aggressive with his franchise player.
Throughout the series, Reid, Julius Randle, and McDaniels have consistently used aggressive tactics against Wembanyama. In Game 3, the Frenchman responded with a stellar 39-point performance on 13-of-18 shooting, but the physical toll was mounting. The Timberwolves deliberately provoked the Spurs star, and in Game 4, the strategy paid off.
For Edwards, this game was special. Fifteen days earlier, he hyperextended his left knee and suffered a bone bruise in the first round against Denver, causing him to miss the last two games of that series. Playing through injury, the guard has shown exceptional determination. His three 30+ point games in these playoffs have given Minnesota a 2-1 record when he scores over 30.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch described Edwards' performance: "When they didn't double him, he got to his shots quickly and cleanly. He just figured out how to create space — that's all he needed."
What's Next / Next Game Preview
Game 5, a pivotal matchup, will be played on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in San Antonio. The game tips off at 7:00 PM Central Time (actually at 7:12 PM) and will be broadcast live on NBC and Peacock. It will be the only NBA playoff game that evening, as the New York Knicks have already swept Philadelphia.
The big question is whether Wembanyama will be suspended for Game 5. A Flagrant 2 does not carry an automatic suspension, but the league may review the incident and impose additional discipline, especially given a history of rough play. If Wembanyama misses Game 5, the Spurs' chances at home drop significantly.
If Minnesota wins one of the next two games and forces a Game 6, it will be played on Friday, May 15, in Minneapolis. This would be the first time in the series with two days between games. The tip-off time for Game 6 is not yet set and may depend on whether Cleveland forces a Game 6 against Detroit, also scheduled for Friday.
A Game 7, if necessary, would be on Sunday, May 18, in San Antonio. The series is unfolding dramatically, and the Edwards-Wembanyama rivalry is becoming the highlight of the Western Conference second round.
— Editorial Team
