‘Just hope he misses,’ Anthony Edwards admits Timberwolves had no answer for Victor Wembanyama

The frustration showed up before the final buzzer ever sounded. Minnesota spent most of the night chasing defensive coverages, scrambling through transition possessions and searching for a solution that never fully arrived. By the time the San Antonio Spurs closed out another playoff win over the Timberwolves, the conversation around the series had shifted toward the sheer impossibility of containing Victor Wembanyama when his offensive rhythm arrives early.

Anthony Edwards did not try to disguise it afterward. The Timberwolves star, who has carried Minnesota through stretches of the postseason with explosive scoring performances, instead pointed directly at the problem his team could not solve. Wembanyama’s opening burst had tilted the game immediately, forcing Minnesota into reactive basketball for long stretches and exposing mistakes that have become increasingly costly deeper into the series.

San Antonio’s game plan was obvious from the opening possessions, i.e., involve Wembanyama everywhere and force Minnesota’s defense to make impossible choices. The Spurs repeatedly spaced the floor to pull Rudy Gobert away from the rim while using Wembanyama in early offense actions before Minnesota’s half-court defense could fully organize. That combination created the exact type of matchup chaos the Spurs envisioned when building their offense around the 7-foot-4 franchise centerpiece.

Wembanyama responded with one of his strongest starts of the postseason. He attacked quickly off the catch, hit perimeter jumpers over late contests and punished switches by shooting comfortably over smaller defenders. Minnesota’s normal defensive counters, crowding the paint, rotating length toward the ball or funneling drives into Gobert, became less effective once Wembanyama established outside rhythm.

1. Anthony Edwards Admits Defeat and Hopes Victor Wembanyama Misses

When asked why the Minnesota Timberwolves have been falling behind by a significant number of points early in the game, Edwards said, “Tonight, some of the stuff that Wemby was doing you can’t, you don’t really have too much of an answer for it. Um, just kind of hope he misses. But he was making he came out hot he made a bunch of shots.” “I feel like we adjusted fought back fought back fought back in the game, um, tried to dig ourselves out of the hole but I mean eventually they created another lead and running out in transition. We got to get back get get matched up just um game plan mistakes that we keep making and it’s too late in the series to make these,” he concluded.

2. How Timberwolves’ Game Plan Mistakes Are Fueling San Antonio’s Explosive Transition Offense

The Timberwolves have struggled at times in the series to get organized defensively after missed shots and live-ball turnovers. Against most opponents, those mistakes are manageable. Against San Antonio, they become far more dangerous because of the Spurs’ pace and spacing. San Antonio’s young core has consistently turned defensive rebounds into quick offensive opportunities. De’Aaron Fox has pushed tempo relentlessly, Devin Vassell has punished cross-matches on the wing and Wembanyama’s ability to trail plays creates additional pressure on retreating defenders. Edwards specifically referenced “game plan mistakes,” an indication that Minnesota believes many of the problems are execution-based rather than schematic failures. That distinction matters at this stage of a playoff series. The Timberwolves entered the postseason with one of the NBA’s top defensive ratings, built around Gobert’s rim protection, Jaden McDaniels’ perimeter versatility and Edwards’ growing on-ball engagement. But San Antonio has repeatedly stressed those rotations by forcing Minnesota into uncomfortable recovery situations. Once the Spurs establish early leads, they become significantly harder to defend because opponents must accelerate tempo to keep pace. That opens the floor even more for Wembanyama, whose combination of length and ball skills becomes overwhelming in space.

3. Wembanyama’s Tactical Masterclass Is Shattering Minnesota’s Elite Defense

Minnesota’s challenge is no longer simply slowing one player. It is figuring out how to survive San Antonio’s layered offensive pressure without sacrificing its own identity. The Spurs have increasingly leaned into five-out alignments featuring Wembanyama operating above the break, where his shooting forces centers into difficult decisions. If Gobert stays back, Wembanyama shoots comfortably from distance. If Minnesota switches aggressively, San Antonio attacks mismatches immediately. That tactical pressure has created a difficult balancing act for Timberwolves coach Chris Finch. Minnesota still needs Gobert’s rim protection, particularly against Fox’s downhill attacks, but keeping him too attached to the paint allows Wembanyama clean perimeter looks. Edwards’ comments also hinted at the mental strain of repeatedly fighting uphill in games. Minnesota has mounted several rallies throughout the series, but the constant need to recover drains energy and limits lineup flexibility late. Meanwhile, San Antonio’s confidence has grown visibly with each game. The Spurs entered the postseason as one of the league’s youngest playoff teams, but their offensive composure has accelerated as the series has progressed. Wembanyama’s presence changes the geometry of every possession. Even when he is not directly involved, defenses shade toward him instinctively, creating driving lanes and weak-side openings elsewhere. That ripple effect has elevated San Antonio from a promising young playoff team into a legitimate Western Conference threat.

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• Anthony Edwards
• Victor Wembanyama