Timberwolves 104, Spurs 102: Minnesota Takes Game 1

The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the San Antonio Spurs 104-102 on Monday, May 4, 2026, in Game 1 of the West semifinals, with Julius Randle leading all scorers with 21 points and adding 10 rebounds. Minnesota closed with a 35-point fourth quarter to come away with the road win at Frost Bank Center.

Quarter-by-quarter breakdown

First quarter

Minnesota set the early tone by taking a 24-23 lead after one quarter. The Timberwolves were slightly sharper offensively in the opening 12 minutes, and that one-point edge reflected how tight the matchup was from the start.

Second quarter

San Antonio answered in the second, outscoring Minnesota 22-21 to take a 45-45 tie into halftime. Neither side created much separation, with both defenses keeping the game in a controlled half-court rhythm.

Third quarter

The Spurs had their best stretch in the third and took a 72-69 lead into the final period after a 27-24 quarter. San Antonio looked positioned to protect home court, getting enough offense to move in front while continuing to limit easy Minnesota chances.

Fourth quarter

The game turned in the final 12 minutes. Minnesota delivered 35 points in the fourth quarter, its highest-scoring period of the night, while San Antonio scored 30. That late offensive push allowed the Timberwolves to erase the deficit and hold off the Spurs by two points at the finish.

Key performers

Minnesota Timberwolves: Julius Randle led the way with 21 points and 10 rebounds, giving Minnesota a steady interior and mid-range scoring option throughout the night. Anthony Edwards added 18 points, while Mike Conley paced the team with six assists. Minnesota also benefited from efficient perimeter shooting, finishing 10-for-26 from 3-point range, good for 38.5%.

San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper led the Spurs with 18 points. Victor Wembanyama delivered one of the most unusual stat lines of the postseason so far with 11 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 blocks, while De’Aaron Fox led San Antonio with six assists. The Spurs finished with 47 rebounds and 24 assists, but their 27.8% shooting from deep limited their offensive margin late.

NerdSports Stat: San Antonio got a 12-block triple-double from Victor Wembanyama and still lost, even while holding Minnesota to just 12 made free throws and only a 46-47 rebound deficit.

Game analysis

This game came down to late-game shot quality and spacing. Minnesota did not separate itself at the foul line, where it shot just 57.1%, but it made up for that by shooting 45.6% from the field and 38.5% from 3. San Antonio was respectable overall at 44.8% from the floor, yet its 10-for-36 performance from beyond the arc left points on the board in a two-point game.

The Spurs also did enough defensively to stay in control for much of the night, especially with Wembanyama protecting the rim at an elite level. But Minnesota’s fourth-quarter execution was cleaner. The Timberwolves outscored San Antonio by five in the final period, and that swing was the difference after three highly competitive quarters.

For Minnesota, the balance stood out. Randle’s 21 points and 10 rebounds gave the Timberwolves a reliable frontcourt presence, Edwards chipped in 18, and Conley helped organize the offense. For San Antonio, Harper’s team-high 18 points kept the pressure on, but the Spurs needed more efficiency from long range to protect their third-quarter lead.

Closing context

With the result, Minnesota takes a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven West semifinal series. The Timberwolves, who entered the postseason after a 49-33 regular season, stole home-court advantage from a San Antonio team that finished 62-20 and 32-8 at home. Game 2 now becomes especially important for the Spurs as they try to avoid heading to Minnesota in a deeper series hole.

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