MINNEAPOLIS — Eight minutes and a second remained, however inevitability had already rooted. So Anthony Edwards made the lengthy, disappointing stroll down the Goal Middle sideline to the San Antonio Spurs’ bench. He mentioned it was over, he knew he wasn’t going again in, so he hand-delivered the respect the Spurs deserved.
With 8:01 remaining.
Oh, the symbolism. The subliminal messaging.
The good Victor Wembanyama so holistically beat one of many NBA’s nice rivals to the purpose of publicly laying down his sword. In his second postseason collection, his first towards a real nice, Wembanyama humbled the proud. Audited by playoff stress, and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ resilience, Wembanyama validated the expectations he carries.
His Recreation 6 — 19 factors, six rebounds, three blocks — lacked the splash of earlier performances. Together with his excellence metastasized within the spirit of Edwards and his Timberwolves, Wembanyama didn’t must be masterful. One mild nudge and Minnesota crumbled, 139-109, to finish this Western Convention semifinal.
However Edwards provided extra to chew on together with his pilgrimage of defeat. He might’ve finished like the remainder of his group and sulked on the bench till the ultimate horn, then met their conquering foes on the hardwood for sportsmanship. But he selected a louder concession.
As a preface, the conclusion right here, deciphered from the scene by this creator, was a plea for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Verbally, Edwards mentioned he believed his Timberwolves, as constructed, might compete with the Spurs and awaiting Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. However when requested in regards to the relentless double groups he confronted, he pointed to his teammates by inference.
“It was no wrestle,” he mentioned of dealing with the protection’s further consideration. “Simply trusting in my teammates, trusting within the subsequent motion we’re going to make one thing occur. And I really feel like we did, man. We simply couldn’t make sufficient photographs to win the sport. I believe that’s simply what it got here right down to.”
He began by dapping up the coaches. Then No. 5 made his manner into the huddle of San Antonio gamers, interrupting the Spurs’ timeout dialogue. Someplace in there, Edwards quietly declared he’d see them once more. That he wasn’t afraid of the brand new energy brewing, and, after proudly owning Denver, he seemed ahead to a brand new hill to climb. His hand shakes, half-hugs and chest faucets gave off “don’t let me get Giannis” vibes.
However a brand new energy is brewing. And Ant’s enterprise into their area to supply his respect screamed his approval of what the Spurs have, his appreciation for the way they transfer. It is also interpreted as a message to Timberwolves administration: That is what I want.
Friday’s conflict of NBA superstars didn’t come right down to the superstars. However the co-stars.
In Recreation 6, Stephon Fort outshined Wembanyama with a game-high 32 factors, 11 rebounds and 6 assists. De’Aaron Fox orchestrated the mauling of Minnesota, dancing round defenders and into the lane at will. Julian Champagnie and Devin Vassell’s mixed seven 3s felt like 20 cannonballs crashing into the Timberwolves’ backbone.
Edwards’ blatant congratulations, after he battled by way of knee accidents and double groups, highlighted what he had round him.
On an evening when Fort and Fox mixed for 53 factors on 26 photographs, permitting Wembanyama to sit back, Julius Randle and Jaden McDaniels mixed for 16 factors on 21 photographs, disallowing Edwards to calm down for even a second.
Any evaluation of Edwards’ supporting forged begins with Randle, who was particularly putrid in Recreation 6: three factors on 1-of-8 taking pictures. San Antonio outscored the Timberwolves by 34 factors within the 24 minutes Randle was on the ground.
It is a pattern with Randle. He’s an All-Star-caliber participant with tangible strengths that may be seductive. He generally is a powerful matchup. He generally is a difference-maker. However, invariably, his capability crashes right into a concrete ceiling. On the most important levels, towards the most effective groups, he winds up wanting miscast as a No. 2.
With the Knicks within the 2023 playoffs, he averaged 18.8 factors on 41.4 % taking pictures — greater than 5 factors beneath his common that season as an All-Star. In Recreation 6 towards a Miami Warmth squad that includes Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 41. However Randle had simply 15 factors on 3-for-14 taking pictures in a loss that eradicated New York. The Warmth went to the NBA Finals that yr.
Randle missed the 2024 playoffs with an harm. The Knicks, after famously being ousted by Indiana in Recreation 7, traded Randle for Karl-Anthony Cities.
In his postseason debut with Minnesota final season, Randle appeared to be the lacking piece. He punished the Los Angeles Lakers and torched the Steph Curry-less Warriors. He seemed to be the proper complement to Edwards.
However towards Oklahoma Metropolis within the West finals, Randle had two huge duds in the one two non-blowouts within the collection. He went 2 of 11 in Recreation 2 and 1 of seven in Recreation 4. In the meantime, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a gluttonous quantity of help in Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.
Within the first spherical this yr, Randle wasn’t dangerous towards the Denver Nuggets. However he struggled to impose his will. After Edwards went down with a hyperextended knee, Randle’s recreation didn’t flip up. The Timberwolves survived just for Randle’s recreation to fully whither towards the Spurs.
Wembanyama’s presence loomed over Randle like a nightmare.
Randle quantities to an NBA bully. A ahead with talent, he rams his shoulder to get the place he desires, typically into the paint. He completed the common season with the Twelfth-most photographs within the restricted space, much more than Wembanyama, and made 67.4 % of his makes an attempt.
However he averted the paint this collection just like the French Freddy Krueger roamed there. He solely took 25 photographs within the restricted space in six video games, making solely 13. And Randle’s 3-point taking pictures faltered together with his confidence. He went 4 of 21 from deep. His two largest weapons neutralized by WWJD — What Wembanyama Simply Did.
“Defensively, man, he’s unimaginable,” Edwards mentioned. “He alters each shot on the rim. He goes … after each block, whether or not it’s goaltending or not or what the problem is. Yeah, it’s powerful. It’s sort of powerful to go to the rim towards a man who’s like 7-6. He’s fairly good.”
Randle has scored 20 or extra factors in simply six of his final 17 playoff video games. The proof suggests he can’t be the second-best participant on a championship group.
Minnesota is aware of this sense of falling brief. They’ve been despatched dwelling gutted earlier than. However not like how the final two seasons ended, this defeat doesn’t really feel just like the precipice of one thing larger. The Timberwolves really feel additional away from a title. Not simply because they didn’t make a 3rd straight West finals. However as a result of they don’t look prepared, as constructed, to cope with the powers above them.
San Antonio feels just like the rising juggernaut. Oklahoma Metropolis has the makings of a dynasty. And the Lakers with Luka Donćič sit a transfer or two from being elite. Edwards is climbing with all his would possibly and nonetheless dropping floor. He wants assist. The sort that doesn’t fade. The sort that faithfully punishes the additional consideration he receives.
This predicament is likely to be price drastic measures. One of many extra apparent options sits in Milwaukee. However whether or not the Timberwolves can pull it off or not, Giannis represents the quandary of the Timberwolves. They want a type of. An actual star. A confirmed, imposing commodity. Giannis exams their comprehension of their circumstance and their resolve for championship glory. They need to resolve if that is who they wish to be. If that is sufficient. As a result of in Edwards, they’ve a famous person worthy of extra. And hungry for extra.
For 3 seasons straight now, the Timberwolves have been despatched dwelling in convincing defeats. Of their final three elimination video games — in 2024 at dwelling to the Dallas Mavericks, in 2025 at Oklahoma Metropolis and 2026 at dwelling to San Antonio — Minnesota misplaced by a mixed 81 factors. On the finish of a protracted season, after spilling all their valiance and talent, once they’ve reached the very best stage they’ll go, the Timberwolves have misplaced by a median of 27 factors.
Oh, the symbolism. The subliminal messaging.
What does that say about this group? Edwards, as he congratulated the Spurs of their huddle with 8:01 on the clock, possible had a solution in thoughts.
Besides, he mentioned, “I don’t suppose that’s a query for me.”
