Wembanyama Gets His Revenge as Spurs Outlast Wolves in a Wild Finish
Six days ago, the Timberwolves stunned the Spurs with a furious 19-point comeback, capped by Anthony Edwards outdueling Victor Wembanyama in the final moments. This time around, Wemby didn’t just remember - he responded.
Despite a quiet first quarter, Wembanyama erupted in the second, reminding everyone exactly why he’s one of the most electrifying young stars in the league. The Wolves, already short-handed without Rudy Gobert (hip) and then losing Naz Reid early to a shoulder injury, started strong. Jaden McDaniels and Edwards combined for 15 of Minnesota’s 22 first-quarter points, giving them a slim one-point lead.
But then came the second quarter - and the Wemby show.
The 7-foot-4 phenom flipped the switch and took over. It started with trips to the free throw line, then a smooth step-through finish, and finally, a barrage of three-pointers that looked like something out of a video game.
One minute the Wolves were hanging in, the next they were staring at a 25-point deficit. Wembanyama was unconscious.
But let’s be real - Minnesota didn’t help themselves. Defensive breakdowns, stagnant offense, and a lack of ball movement turned a manageable game into a runaway.
Head coach Chris Finch clearly had words for his squad at the half.
Enter Joan Beringer. Just his second real game action in the NBA, and the 19-year-old was suddenly thrust into a major role, starting the second half in place of the injured bigs.
And he delivered. Hustle plays, second-chance efforts, and relentless energy - Beringer made his presence felt in every way.
One sequence summed up his night perfectly: an offensive rebound initially ruled out of bounds, overturned on review, and keeping the Wolves alive.
His spark ignited the rest of the team.
Even when Edwards briefly exited with a knee issue after a tough finish at the rim, Minnesota didn’t blink. McDaniels stepped up with a defensive clinic - swatting Wembanyama on a mid-range jumper, then rejecting Stephon Castle later in the quarter. The Wolves flipped the script in the third, winning the frame 40-27 and clawing their way back into the game.
But they still had work to do.
Down 12 heading into the fourth, the Wolves kept the pressure on. Blocks from McDaniels and Beringer, physical drives from Julius Randle, and then - Edwards time.
The All-Star guard caught fire from deep, draining a trio of threes that brought the Wolves all the way back. Each shot seemed more improbable than the last, and suddenly, we were watching a heavyweight fight between two of the league’s brightest stars.
It was Edwards vs. Wembanyama, Round Two.
The final minutes had all the drama of a playoff game. Edwards landed haymakers from beyond the arc.
Wembanyama answered with a cold-blooded mid-range jumper, then sealed the deal with a clutch block on Beringer in the final minute. Edwards pushed his point total to a career-high 55, but his desperation heave at the buzzer never had a chance.
Minnesota’s comeback effort - tying a franchise record by erasing a 25-point deficit - fell just short. And while the loss stung in the moment, the bigger picture offers plenty to be encouraged about.
This was the second night of a road back-to-back. The Wolves were missing two key rotation pieces - Gobert, a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, and Reid, a Sixth Man of the Year contender. The Spurs, meanwhile, were fully healthy and playing like it.
And still, Minnesota nearly pulled off another miracle.
Beringer showed flashes of a future cornerstone. McDaniels looked every bit the two-way force the Wolves believe he can be. And Edwards - even on a banged-up knee - reminded everyone why he’s one of the most dangerous scorers in the game.
The Wolves get a couple days to regroup before heading to Utah on Tuesday to face the Jazz - a team they’ve already beaten twice this season. If Gobert and Ingles are available, they’ll be welcomed back to Salt Lake in what promises to be another high-energy matchup.
For now, chalk this one up as a hard-fought loss - and a showcase of two rising superstars trading blows on the biggest stage.