Anthony Edwards returned from injury to eclipse a record-breaking defensive performance from Victor Wembanyama as the Minnesota Timberwolves upset the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs 104-102 in the NBA playoffs on Monday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Newly crowned NBA defensive player of the year Wembanyama muscled his way to 12 blocks -- a record in a postseason game -- but it was not enough to thwart a resilient performance from the sixth-seeded Timberwolves.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Minnesota ace Edwards, who missed the final two games of the Wolves' first-round series win over Denver with a left knee injury, scored 18 points from the bench despite clearly being short of full fitness.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Edwards' effort was backed by 21 points from Julius Randle while four other Minnesota players cracked double figures in a precious opening victory on the road in the best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We just want to win ball games, that's all we want to do as a group, no matter who it is, we don't care," Edwards said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I may not be as athletic as I usually am, but I got to be able to box out and make those small plays and win a big-time game," he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
San Antonio were left reflecting on an agonizing finish which saw Julian Champagnie's attempted buzzer-beater to snatch victory bounce off the rim as the clock expired.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Wembanyama's monster defensive performance also included 15 rebounds with 11 points in what turned out to be a losing effort.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Dylan Harper led the Spurs scoring with 18 points off the bench on a night when seven San Antonio players finished with double-digit points tallies.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Wembanyama vowed an improvement when San Antonio attempt to level game two of the series on Wednesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Obviously we have to be better," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We need to figure out in the next 48 hours what we can do better. And I've got no doubt that we will. I would trust us," the Frenchman said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It's a lot on me because obviously my game wasn't feeling good tonight and that's where the team is going to look for me," Wembanyama added. "If I had been better, if the offensive leaders of our team had been better, it would have been different."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- Brunson leads Knicks romp -<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Jalen Brunson produced a dazzling 35-point performance as the New York Knicks pummeled the Philadelphia 76ers 137-98 to grab a 1-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semi-final series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Knicks talisman Brunson led a dominant New York offense who erupted for 74 points in the first half and were always in control against a dangerous Sixers side who upset second-seeded Boston in the first round.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
OG Anunoby provided Brunson's offensive support with 18 points while Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges added 17 points apiece in front of a star-studded crowd at Madison Square Garden.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The win was the perfect start to the best-of-seven series for the Knicks, who are chasing a first appearance in the NBA finals since 1999.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Brunson set the tone for a lopsided evening in the first quarter, pouring in 14 points as the Knicks surged into a 33-25 lead.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 29-year-old point guard kept the points flowing in the second quarter as the Knicks rattled in 41 points to take a 74-51 lead into half-time, Brunson icing the half with a superb three-pointer from 25 feet.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
New York never looked like surrendering that advantage over the remainder of the game, leading by as many as 40 points in the fourth quarter before cruising home.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Philadelphia's big three of Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Paul George failed to fire, shooting a combined 12-of-31 in the face of a stifling New York defense.<\/p>\r\n\r\n