On Saturday night in San Antonio, Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama delivered a duel that felt less like a regular-season game and more like a glimpse into the NBA’s future.
The Spurs looked firmly in control early. Playing at home and facing a shorthanded Timberwolves squad, San Antonio stormed into halftime with a commanding 25-point lead, seemingly well on its way to a comfortable win.
Then the second half happened.
Minnesota chipped away possession by possession, outscoring the Spurs by 13 in the third quarter and trimming the deficit to 12 entering the fourth. What followed was a one-man offensive eruption from Edwards.
Already with 13 points in the third, Edwards went from hot to incandescent in the final frame. He attacked the rim relentlessly, scored in transition, knocked down midrange jumpers, and began raining threes from deep. Edwards poured in 26 points in the fourth quarter alone, finishing with 39 in the second half.
For the half, he shot 12-of-20 from the field and an absurd 8-of-13 from beyond the arc. Edwards finished the night with a career-high 55 points.
Yet, it still wasn’t enough for the Timberwolves to pull out the victory.
Wembanyama Had Other Ideas
That’s because every time Edwards and the Timberwolves surged—every time they pulled within striking distance or briefly grabbed the lead—Wembanyama answered.
A contested elbow jumper. A smooth three-pointer. A momentum-sapping response right on cue. The Spurs star matched Edwards’ brilliance with poise well beyond his years, repeatedly steadying San Antonio when the game threatened to slip away.
The result was a historic showdown. Edwards and Wembanyama combined for 94 points, the most ever scored in a single game by opposing No. 1 overall picks in the modern draft era (since 1966).
If Saturday night was any indication, it won’t be the last time these two share center stage.
Clutch Player of the Year
Even in defeat, Edwards’ performance only strengthened his case for the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year award.
The résumé is growing. Just over a week ago, against these same Spurs in Minnesota, the Timberwolves fell behind 16–0 to start the game. Edwards spearheaded the comeback, knocking down three of his four shots late — including a game-sealing floater.
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/2002246255288987742
A month earlier, against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Edwards outdueled the reigning MVP down the stretch. He blocked him, hit a game-winning three, and made the decisive steal and stop on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the final moments.
The eye test alone is compelling. The numbers are even louder.
Advanced Stats
Edwards has been the most efficient clutch scorer in the NBA this season. Among players with at least 30 clutch field-goal attempts, he leads the league with an eye-popping 83.7% effective field goal percentage. The next closest players—VJ Edgecombe (68.8%) and Nikola Jokić (62.5%) — aren’t particularly close.
If Edwards sustains anything near that efficiency, it would rank as the most efficient clutch shooting season in NBA history.
https://twitter.com/automaticnba/status/2012765369526530115
When removing free throws and focusing strictly on points from the field per minute in clutch situations, Edwards stands alone. No one else is operating in his stratosphere.
If He Keeps It Up…
Edwards’ continued growth is the primary reason the Timberwolves remain firmly in the mix near the top of the Western Conference standings. He’s the engine behind Minnesota’s belief—and the league’s growing consensus—that the Wolves are legitimate title contenders.
If he keeps closing games this way, Edwards won’t just deserve the Clutch Player of the Year award. He’ll force his way into the league’s MVP conversation as well.
Leave a comment