SAN ANTONIO — The Minnesota Timberwolves achieved a convincing 106-92 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night, led by Anthony Edwards, who scored 26 points.
Adding to the Timberwolves’ efforts, Nickeil Alexander-Walker contributed 17 points off the bench. Minnesota has been on a positive streak, winning two games in a row and five out of their last seven contests.
For the Spurs, Victor Wembanyama stood out with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while teammate Jeremy Sochan added a double-double with 17 points and 15 rebounds. Harrison Barnes also made his mark on the score sheet with 17 points.
San Antonio made a strong attempt to close the gap after halftime, starting the second half with a 20-9 surge that narrowed the Timberwolves’ lead to just 61-57. However, Minnesota countered effectively, outscoring the Spurs 30-22 in the final frame to secure their win. San Antonio struggled to repeat their success following a dramatic comeback from a 17-point deficit against Portland, which took place on Friday.
The Timberwolves capitalized on their defensive prowess, forcing 10 turnovers and collecting 13 points from second chances, establishing a substantial 16-point lead in the first half.
In notable moments, Rob Dillingham scored his first points against the Spurs since being traded to Minnesota. Dillingham, drafted eighth overall by San Antonio, scored three points in this game after a previous scoreless performance against the Spurs on November 2.
Meanwhile, Sochan made his second consecutive start after returning from a lengthy injury period. He had missed 13 games due to surgery on a fractured left thumb but had previously come off the bench in his return on December 1.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Minnesota embarked on a 10-2 run that spanned the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth, effectively regaining control of the match after San Antonio managed to close the gap to four points in the third quarter.
One telling statistic from the game is that San Antonio’s shooting from beyond the arc was disappointing, connecting on only 11 of 45 attempts (24.4%), a stark drop from their typical 35% shooting rate from three-point territory.
Looking ahead, the Timberwolves are set to face the Knicks at home, while the Spurs will host the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday.
