Anthony Edwards Shot 5-for-13 and Minnesota Lost by 38: Wolves Have to Be Better Starting Tonight

The Minnesota Timberwolves are heading home from San Antonio in serious trouble. After stealing Game 1 by two points, they got absolutely demolished in Game 2, and now Game 3 Friday night in Minneapolis is already feeling like a must-win. Get this wrong, and the Spurs walk out of town with a 2-1 series lead in the Western Conference semifinal.

Anthony Edwards knows exactly what went wrong. He finished with 12 points on 5-for-13 shooting in that 38-point beatdown, and he wasn't shy about it. "I tip my hat to those guys," Edwards said after the loss. "They came out and they played hard. They were the more desperate team. They wanted it. And we'll see where it goes from here." The Wolves' star guard is also dealing with a bone bruise in his left knee and is listed as questionable for Game 3, which only makes things worse.

San Antonio's Got Momentum and the Weapons to Keep It

De'Aaron Fox was brutal in Game 1, a loss that still stings at 104-102, but he came back swinging in Game 2 with 16 points in 26 minutes. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson is preaching the same message heading into Friday: keep attacking. "We're at our best when he's in attack mode," Johnson said. "He has probably the strongest ripple effect on our team in terms of when he's in attack mode pushing the pace."

The Spurs' scoring is spread out and dangerous. Steph Castle leads the postseason with 19.6 points per game, Victor Wembanyama is next with 19.0 points and a team-high 10.8 rebounds, and Fox is third at 18.1 points per game. Wembanyama especially is on fire. He dropped 19 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in Game 2 alone, and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year knows the Wolves will test him inside. "We're going to keep doubling up on what worked," Wembanyama said. "And those few things that didn't, we're going to erase them."

Minnesota's Defense Is Breaking Down

For the Timberwolves, Julius Randle leads the way with 18.5 points per game in the playoffs, while Ayo Dosunmu is averaging 18.2. But here's the problem: Dosunmu is listed as questionable with soreness in his right heel. More concerning, Jaden McDaniels, one of the Wolves' best defenders, has been stuck on the bench dealing with early foul trouble. That's killing them.

Edwards understands the stakes. "We need him on the floor," Edwards said of McDaniels. "When he gets in foul trouble, (the other team gets) happy. He's going to be better next game. He knows he can't really foul because we're not going to win if he's not on the floor."

Game 3 tips off Friday night in Minneapolis. The Wolves are desperate. The Spurs smell blood. This series is about to flip.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.