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The Minnesota Timberwolves Cannot Be Doubted
May 5, 2026
Posted 2 hours ago by
For as gutsy and impressive as their first-round upset of the Denver Nuggets was, there were plenty of reasons to doubt the Minnesota Timberwolves' chances against San Antonio. That's not saying much—to point out that the Spurs are heavy favorites in this series is like pointing out that a rock will fall to the ground when released from your hand. And yet here we are, once again trying to make sense of a Timberwolves victory that did not seem possible.
Without the services of Donte DiVincenzo or Ayo Dosunmu, and with a hobbled Anthony Edwards restricted to just 25 minutes, the Wolves beat the Spurs in Game 1, 104–102. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1ErdXotXUI Injuries aside, Minnesota's odds felt so long going into this matchup due to a new set of variables. They found success in the Denver series through a relatively simple formula: Erase Jamal Murray with relentless defensive pressure and drive right at Nikola Jokic and the rim every damn possession. The Spurs do not offer similar weaknesses to press on. Murray looks like a moderately athletic seventh grader when compared to the players in San Antonio's speedy and strong backcourt; the gap in difficulty between scoring on Jokic at the rim and Victor Wembanyama at the rim is wide enough to stuff both of Jokic's brothers and one or two of his horses through.
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