Jaden McDaniels, Anthony Edwards
The Minnesota Timberwolves looked lifeless for much of Sunday night, then flipped the game in a matter of minutes. Down 19 midway through the third quarter, Minnesota stormed back to beat the San Antonio Spurs 104-103, closing the game with force, confidence, and timely defense, per Canis Hoopus. It was a team effort, but Anthony Edwards had a lot of praise for Jaden McDaniels after the game.
Minnesota outscored San Antonio 33-18 in the fourth quarter, turning a sluggish three quarters into a late surge powered by physicality and shot-making. The Spurs, who arrived in Minneapolis at 3 a.m. and played on the second night of a back-to-back, controlled much of the game behind Victor Wembanyama until the Timberwolves tightened the screws defensively and started forcing turnovers.
The Wolves forced seven Spurs giveaways in the final frame, hit four three-pointers, and consistently took away space. Once Minnesota got downhill and sped the game up, the momentum shifted fast.
Minnesota’s Fourth-Quarter Shift
Wembanyama imposed his will early, but the Wolves adjusted late. Julius Randle took on the primary matchup in the fourth quarter and leaned into a physical approach, crowding Wembanyama and making every touch difficult.
“He’s 7’5, so all you can do is pray,” Randle joked afterward. “I’m not about to sit here and block his shot, so I’m just trying to play solid defense and be physical.”
While Randle handled the bulk of the late matchup, Minnesota’s defense worked as a unit. The Wolves stayed home on shooters, clogged driving lanes, and forced San Antonio into rushed decisions. That discipline allowed Minnesota to erase the deficit possession by possession.
Offensively, Minnesota got the timely shots it needed. Late in the game, Jaden McDaniels drilled a short jumper inside the paint to give the Wolves a one-point lead with under a minute to play, Twin Cities reports. Moments later, Anthony Edwards attacked Wembanyama off the dribble and finished with his right hand for the eventual game-winner.
Edwards struggled shooting for much of the night, but he stayed aggressive. Earlier, he told teammate Terrence Shannon Jr. that if Minnesota got close, he would close it out.
He did exactly that.
Anthony Edwards’ DPOY Case for McDaniels
After the win, Edwards focused his praise on McDaniels and his defense late in the game, Yahoo reports.
“To me, he the Defensive Player of the Year,” Edwards said. “I mean, we got two of em, Rudy and Jaden. He do this all the time. He be mid-play guarding the ball, and it may look like he beat, like, tonight I was finna come help him, and he was like, ‘nah stay home, I got it,’ and he blockin it as he talkin to me. I tell ya all the time, he my favorite player in the NBA.”
The comments reflected how Minnesota views itself internally. Confidence runs through the roster, from Edwards to McDaniels to Randle. That belief fuels both the Wolves’ occasional lulls and their ability to erase massive deficits.
@adukemn
Anthony Edwards on Jaden McDaniels fourth quarter blocks. “To me he’s defensive player of the year, I mean we got two of them… he do this all the time, like he’ll be mid play guarding the ball, and it may look like he’s beat, and we be finna come help… but he’s like “nah stay home, I got it”(in a Jaden Voice) and he blocked it as he’s taking to me(laughs) so that’s like, you know what I’m saying, like he’s telling me to stay home during the play and blocking the shot. I tell y’all all the time he’s my favorite player”
♬ original sound – AdukeMN
Minnesota does not always start games cleanly, but once it locks in, the Wolves believe no situation sits beyond reach. Sunday’s comeback reinforced that identity and underscored how dangerous Minnesota becomes when defense, physicality, and confidence align.
For a team battling for position in the Western Conference, the Wolves left Sunday with another reminder of who they are and why, even when they fall behind, they never consider themselves out of it.