Wembanyama powers Spurs past Timberwolves as San Antonio take series lead

[p]A defensive menace all night, French superstar [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wembanyama-victor/jFmM1MFl/"]Wembanyama[/a] took a tight, tense and physical game out of the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/minnesota-timberwolves/KjBIVQcI/"]Timberwolves[/a]' grasp with a stunning offensive fourth quarter including 16 points.[/p][p]The 7-foot-4 prodigy, playing his first NBA post-season, finished the night in Minneapolis with 39 points overall, plus 15 rebounds and five blocks.[/p][p][b]"I'm built for this. I love this more than anything else,"[/b] said Wembanyama.[/p][p]He added: [b]"We got the talent. We got the depth. We don't got the experience, but we don't care... We can go to the very top if we play like tonight consistently."[/b][/p][embed guid="b1d5f4e0-bb4b-4a8c-97cb-8aecf38d40f8" url="https://x.com/spurs/status/2052983920518369367" social-type="twitter" /][p]Minnesota had been boosted by the return of their own talisman, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/edwards-anthony/6u0BMZM2/"]Anthony Edwards[/a], to the starting lineup.[/p][p]Edwards shone in the Timberwolves' game-one upset win but, still recovering from a knee injury, had managed just 12 points from the bench in game two's thrashing.[/p][p][b]He immediately returned to inspired form, playing aggressive yet patient basketball to finish with 32 points, 14 rebounds and six assists - but it was ultimately not quite enough.[/b][/p][p]The Timberwolves started dismally, missing their first 12 field goal attempts.[/p][p]Wembanyama shone defensively, with two big early blocks setting the tone, and forcing Minnesota to score from outside the paint.[/p][p]The Timberwolves fought back, and the game was tied 51-51 at half-time.[/p][p][b]Superstars Edwards and Wembanyama dominated the first half's scoring, managing 19 and 16 apiece, with everyone else combined shooting barely 30% from the field.[/b][/p][embed guid="3d7b3509-730c-4086-b30c-55a7b160e7fe" url="https://x.com/spurs/status/2052982874702254448" social-type="twitter" /][p]After the break, the game grew angry. As [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcdaniels-jaden/0pp52ftg/"]Jaden McDaniels[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/harper-dylan/E95BW6Df/"]Dylan Harper[/a] tussled for a ball, a falling Harper's head collided with McDaniels' knee.[/p][p]Moments later, McDaniels and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/castle-stephon/Kzd3IGeT/"]Stephon Castle[/a] shoved each other, drawing multiple players on both sides into a fracas.[/p][p]But Wembanyama kept his cool and finished strong, scoring two long-range three-pointers to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/minnesota-timberwolves-KjBIVQcI/san-antonio-spurs-IwmkErSH/?mid=Gz6nfXBd"]seal the win[/a].[/p][p][b]"Greatness,"[/b] said teammate De'Aaron Fox, of Wembanyama's showing.[/p][p][b]"Teams are going to come out here and try to be physical with him. He fights through that, he doesn't complain, he knows what he's going to endure,"[/b] he added.[/p][p][b]"He comes out here and he produces."[/b][/p]