Timberwolves upset Spurs in NBA semifinals opener, while Knicks defeat 76ers

Minnesota Timberwolves defeat San Antonio Spurs 104-102 in Game 1 of Western Conference semifinals

The Minnesota Timberwolves, led by Anthony Edwards, returned from injury to score 18 points as they outlasted the San Antonio Spurs 104-102 in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series. Edwards had sustained a bone bruise in his left knee on April 25 and was initially expected to miss multiple weeks.

Edwards came off the bench and scored 11 of the Timberwolves’ first 19 points of the fourth quarter, helping Minnesota build a 95-86 advantage. The Spurs trimmed the margin to four with Victor Wembanyama’s dunk with 43.6 seconds left, but Dylan Harper’s steal and layup with 30.9 seconds remaining brought San Antonio within a bucket.

The game was closely contested, with both teams making key plays down the stretch. Jaden McDaniels and Terrence Shannon Jr added 16 points each for Minnesota, while Naz Reid and Mike Conley had 12 points apiece. The Spurs were led by Harper’s 18 points, while Stephon Castle and Julian Champagnie scored 17 each.

The Timberwolves’ victory marked their first win in the series, with Game 2 scheduled for Wednesday in San Antonio. The Spurs will look to bounce back in Game 2, while Minnesota aims to build momentum heading into Games 3 and 4 in Minneapolis.

Meanwhile, the New York Knicks routed the Philadelphia 76ers 137-98 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series. Jalen Brunson scored 27 of his game-high 35 points in the first half, leading the Knicks to a convincing victory. The Knicks’ coach Mike Brown praised his team’s focus on details, saying “They’re trying to focus on the details, no matter what the score is.”

Source: Al Jazeera