Honestly, if you weren't glued to the league pass on Saturday night, you missed one of the most absurd individual duels we’ve seen in years. The last game in NBA action that really had everyone losing their minds wasn't just about a win or a loss; it was about two future faces of the league trying to one-up each other until the final buzzer.
I'm talking about the San Antonio Spurs fending off the Minnesota Timberwolves 126-123.
It was a night where the stat sheet looked like a video game on rookie mode. Anthony Edwards went absolutely nuclear. He dropped a season-high 55 points, including 26 in the fourth quarter alone. 26 points. In one quarter. He was hitting step-back threes like they were layups, pounding his chest at a sold-out Frost Bank Center crowd that was starting to get genuinely nervous.
Why the Last Game in NBA Between the Spurs and Wolves Mattered
People love to talk about Victor Wembanyama’s height or his wingspan, but his clutch gene is what actually won this game. Most of the highlights will show Edwards’ barrage of 3-pointers, but the turning point was a sequence in the final minute that most casual fans sorta overlook.
With about 63 seconds left, Donte DiVincenzo hit a triple to put the Wolves up by one. The building went quiet. Usually, a young team like San Antonio might crumble there. Instead, Wemby canned a 20-footer to take the lead back. Then, on the very next possession, he blocked Joan Beringer’s reverse layup attempt. That block was the game.
It’s these tiny, high-IQ moments that define the last game in NBA schedules.
💡 You might also like: Seahawks Standing in the NFL: Why Seattle is Stuck in the Playoff Purgatory Middle
The Quarter That Broke the Record Books
Check this out: in the second quarter, the Spurs outscored Minnesota 48-22. That is not a typo. It was San Antonio’s highest-scoring quarter since 1987. They shot 57% from the field in the first half.
- Victor Wembanyama: 39 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks.
- Anthony Edwards: 55 points (season high), 5-for-7 on 3s in the 4th.
- De'Aaron Fox: 25 points and 12 assists (serving as the engine for the Spurs' offense).
The Timberwolves almost pulled off a miracle comeback. They opened the fourth on a 9-2 run, and for a second, it felt like the Spurs were going to choke away a 19-point lead just like they did back on January 11th. But they held on. Barely.
Other Major Shakeups From the Saturday Slate
While the Spurs were fighting for their lives, the Detroit Pistons were busy embarrassing the Indiana Pacers. Like, actually embarrassing them. The final score was 121-78.
It was basically 48 minutes of garbage time.
The Pistons are now on a 60-win pace at the halfway point of the season. Think about that for a second. This is the same franchise that was the laughingstock of the league not too long ago. Now, they’re beating playoff contenders by 43 points.
📖 Related: Sammy Sosa Before and After Steroids: What Really Happened
Meanwhile, at Madison Square Garden, the Phoenix Suns edged out the New York Knicks 106-99. This was a "gut check" game. Both Devin Booker and Jalen Brunson were playing through ankle issues. Neither looked 100%, but Booker did enough to drag the Suns to a win, despite the Knicks' home defense being typically stifling.
The Warriors Are Kinda Back?
The Golden State Warriors dismantled the Charlotte Hornets 136-116. Steph Curry didn't even have to do the heavy lifting. He had a relatively quiet night by his standards, but Brandin Podziemski continued his breakout year with a 16/6/7 line.
Interestingly, the Warriors played this one without Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga. Draymond Green actually turned back the clock and put up 20 points. When Draymond is scoring 20, you know the other team is in deep trouble.
What This Means for Your Betting Slips and Standings
If you're tracking the last game in NBA trends for your parlay or just for bragging rights, there’s a massive shift happening in the East. The Celtics absolutely hammered the Hawks 132-106. Jaylen Brown is playing like an MVP candidate with Jayson Tatum still sidelined.
The Hawks looked lost. They don't have a proper center right now, and the Celtics exploited that every single trip down the floor.
👉 See also: Saint Benedict's Prep Soccer: Why the Gray Bees Keep Winning Everything
Actionable Insights for the Week Ahead
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on these three things:
- The Spurs' Pace: They are no longer a "development" team. With De'Aaron Fox facilitating, they are a legitimate threat to win any shootout.
- Pistons Dominance: Don't bet against Detroit at home. Their depth is actually terrifying right now.
- Wemby’s Minutes: He’s still being managed carefully (around 29-30 minutes), but his production per minute is at an all-time high.
The schedule doesn't slow down. We've got the NBA London Game today with the Grizzlies and Magic, plus the Lakers taking on the Raptors in what should be a high-scoring affair.
If you're looking to play the totals, the "Over" has been hitting consistently in Warriors games lately because their bench scoring has surged. On the flip side, the Knicks are still a "Under" trap because of their physical, slow-down style at the Garden.
Monitor the injury reports for Jalen Brunson and Devin Booker specifically. Ankle sprains are lingering across the league right now, and with the All-Star break approaching, teams might start getting cautious.