Victor Wembanyama sets NBA postseason block record in the Spurs' loss to the Timberwolves

Victor Wembanyama showed wherefore helium was the NBA's first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year.

In the San Antonio Spurs' 104-102 nonaccomplishment to the Minnesota Timberwolves successful Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals connected Monday nighttime astatine Frost Bank Center, Wembanyama recorded 12 blocks, mounting an NBA postseason record. He had 11 points, 15 rebounds and 12 blocks, becoming conscionable the 3rd subordinate to get a triple-double successful the playoffs including blocks since the league began tracking blocks successful 1973-74.

While Wembanyama starred defensively, helium struggled offensively, going conscionable 5-for-17 from the field.

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San Antonio Spurs guardant Victor Wembanyama points during the 2nd fractional of Game 1 of the 2nd circular of the NBA playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves successful San Antonio, Texas, connected May 4, 2026. (Eric Gay/AP Photo)

"We person to beryllium better," Wembanyama said. "It shows up connected the stat sheet. We request to fig retired earlier 48 hours what we tin bash better, and I’ve got nary uncertainty that we will. I spot us."

The Timberwolves got an unexpected boost successful the win, arsenic prima defender Anthony Edwards returned from wounded sooner than expected. Edwards suffered a bony bruise and hyperextended his near genu during Game 4 of the Timberwolves’ opening-round bid against the Denver Nuggets.

The 24-year-old was expected to miss the archetypal 2 games of the Timberwolves’ bid against the Spurs but came backmost early.

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San Antonio Spurs guardant Victor Wembanyama reaches for the shot arsenic Minnesota Timberwolves guardant Julius Randle defends during the 2nd fractional of Game 1 of the 2nd circular of the NBA playoffs successful San Antonio, Texas, connected May 4, 2026. (Eric Gay/AP Photo)

He scored 11 of his 18 points successful the 4th fourth arsenic Minnesota held connected to manus San Antonio lone its 2nd nonaccomplishment successful its past 17 bid openers astatine home. Edwards said helium knows his beingness helps calm his teammates.

"I cognize for a fact, conscionable maine being retired there, it calms everybody down," Edwards said. "Not saying there’s immoderate unit connected immoderate of my teammates, but it takes unit disconnected of everybody conscionable knowing that I’m retired there, I’m disposable to play, yeah. And conscionable doing what I bash best, conscionable trying to enactment the shot successful the hoop."

Timberwolves defender Mike Conley said nary 1 expected Edwards backmost truthful soon.

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Minnesota Timberwolves defender Anthony Edwards handles the shot arsenic San Antonio Spurs defender Dylan Harper defends during the archetypal fractional of Game 1 of the 2nd circular of the NBA playoffs successful San Antonio, Texas, connected May 4, 2026. (Eric Gay/AP Photo)

"Nobody expected him to play," Timberwolves seasoned Mike Conley said. "It was conscionable his level of committedness to the game. Not conscionable to the game, but to his teammates. It showed a lot."

Edwards' instrumentality helped propel the Timberwolves past the Spurs contempt Wembanyama’s superb antiaircraft effort.

The Spurs volition look to bounce backmost successful Game 2 erstwhile they play the Timberwolves connected Wednesday astatine 9:30 p.m. ET.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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