New York (AFP) – Anthony Edwards returned from injury to eclipse a record-breaking defensive performance from Victor Wembanyama as the Minnesota Timberwolves upset the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs 104-102 in the NBA playoffs on Monday. Newly crowned NBA defensive player of the year Wembanyama muscled his way to 12 blocks — a record in a postseason game — but it was not enough to thwart a resilient performance from the sixth-seeded Timberwolves.
Minnesota ace Edwards, who missed the final two games of the Wolves’ first-round series win over Denver with a left knee injury, scored 18 points from the bench despite clearly being short of full fitness. Edwards’ effort was backed by 21 points from Julius Randle while four other Minnesota players cracked double figures in a precious opening victory on the road in the best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final series.
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“We just want to win ball games, that’s all we want to do as a group, no matter who it is, we don’t care,” Edwards said. “I may not be as athletic as I usually am, but I got to be able to box out and make those small plays and win a big-time game,” he added. San Antonio were left reflecting on an agonizing finish which saw Julian Champagnie’s attempted buzzer-beater to snatch victory bounce off the rim as the clock expired.
Wembanyama’s monster defensive performance also included 15 rebounds with 11 points in what turned out to be a losing effort. Dylan Harper led the Spurs scoring with 18 points off the bench on a night when seven San Antonio players finished with double-digit points tallies. Wembanyama vowed an improvement when San Antonio attempt to level game two of the series on Wednesday. “Obviously we have to be better,” he said. “We need to figure out in the next 48 hours what we can do better. And I’ve got no doubt that we will. I would trust us,” the Frenchman said. “It’s a lot on me because obviously my game wasn’t feeling good tonight and that’s where the team is going to look for me,” Wembanyama added. “If I had been better, if the offensive leaders of our team had been better, it would have been different.”
– Brunson leads Knicks romp –
Jalen Brunson produced a dazzling 35-point performance as the New York Knicks pummeled the Philadelphia 76ers 137-98 to grab a 1-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semi-final series. Knicks talisman Brunson led a dominant New York offense who erupted for 74 points in the first half and were always in control against a dangerous Sixers side who upset second-seeded Boston in the first round.
OG Anunoby provided Brunson’s offensive support with 18 points while Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges added 17 points apiece in front of a star-studded crowd at Madison Square Garden. The win was the perfect start to the best-of-seven series for the Knicks, who are chasing a first appearance in the NBA finals since 1999. Brunson set the tone for a lopsided evening in the first quarter, pouring in 14 points as the Knicks surged into a 33-25 lead. The 29-year-old point guard kept the points flowing in the second quarter as the Knicks rattled in 41 points to take a 74-51 lead into half-time, Brunson icing the half with a superb three-pointer from 25 feet.
New York never looked like surrendering that advantage over the remainder of the game, leading by as many as 40 points in the fourth quarter before cruising home. Philadelphia’s big three of Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Paul George failed to fire, shooting a combined 12-of-31 in the face of a stifling New York defense. New York will aim to double their series lead in game two in New York on Wednesday.
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