SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 39 points and nine rebounds, corralling a critical offensive rebound in the final seconds, enabling the San Antonio Spurs to fend off Anthony Edwards’ season-high 55 points and beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 126-123 on Saturday night.
Donte DiVincenzo’s 24-foot, 3-pointer put the Timberwolves up 119-118 with 1:03 remaining. Wembanyama responded with a 20-footer and then blocked Joan Beringer’s reverse layup 13 seconds later to preserve the one-point lead.
De’Aaron Fox added 25 points and 12 assists as San Antonio avoided a season sweep of its three-game set against Minnesota. Keldon Johnson added 20 points for the Spurs.
Edwards had 26 points in the fourth quarter, going 5 for 7 on 3-pointers and nearly completed a repeat of Minnesota’s last game against San Antonio.
Edwards drained a 3-pointer in the final seconds on Jan. 11 as San Antonio blew a 19-point lead in the fourth quarter in losing 104-103 at Minnesota.
Edwards’ late barrage was needed after the Spurs set a season-high in the first half.
The Spurs shot 57% from the field in outscoring the Wolves 48-22 in the second quarter. It was San Antonio’s highest scoring quarter since 1987 and fourth most in franchise history for any quarter.
Wembanyama was 3 for 5 on 3-pointers in scoring 23 points in the first half, matching his season high for points in any half.
The Timberwolves rallied, as they did Jan. 11, outscoring the Spurs 40-27 in the third quarter and opened the fourth on a 9-2 run capped by a 3-pointer in the corner that Edwards punctuated by pounding his chest at the sellout crowd.
Wembanyama was scoreless through the first 10 minutes of the third quarter but ended with a flourish on a driving dunk to close the period.
Up next
Timberwolves: At Utah on Tuesday night.
Spurs: Host Utah on Monday night.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
