Basketball is weird. You think you’ve seen everything, and then Anthony Edwards goes out and drops 55 points—a career high, by the way—only for the Minnesota Timberwolves to still walk away with a loss. It happened just last night, January 17, 2026. If you missed it, honestly, you missed the best game of the season so far. The t wolves vs spurs matchup was supposed to be a standard Western Conference battle, but it turned into a historic heavyweight fight between the league’s most explosive guard and a 7-foot-4 alien who seems to be getting better every single week.
San Antonio ended up winning 126-123. They basically survived a nuclear blast from Edwards to snap a five-game losing streak against Minnesota. It was high-level, chaotic, and kind of stressful to watch if you’re a fan of either team.
Why the T Wolves vs Spurs Rivalry is Getting Intense
For a long time, this wasn't really a rivalry. The Spurs were the gold standard of the NBA for two decades while the Wolves were... well, they were the Wolves. But things have shifted. Now, you have two of the most physically imposing young stars in the world in Victor Wembanyama and Anthony Edwards.
The game started out looking like a blowout. San Antonio put up 48 points in the second quarter alone. That’s their highest-scoring quarter since 1987. Let that sink in for a second. The Spurs were moving the ball like the 2014 "Beautiful Game" era, and the Wolves looked totally lost without Rudy Gobert, who was out with a hip contusion. Without their defensive anchor, Minnesota’s paint was basically an open highway.
The Anthony Edwards 55-Point Explosion
Edwards was listed as day-to-day with a foot injury before tip-off. Most people thought he might sit or at least be limited. Instead, he played 42 minutes and decided to carry the entire state of Minnesota on his back.
He scored 26 points in the fourth quarter. It was one of those zones where the hoop looks like an ocean. He was hitting fadeaways, step-back threes, and driving into the chest of Wembanyama without a hint of fear. At one point, he scored 12 straight points to turn a 25-point deficit into a tie game. The Frost Bank Center was dead silent except for a few traveling Wolves fans screaming their heads off.
But basketball is a team sport, sort of. While Ant was doing everything, the Spurs had Victor.
Wembanyama is Not Human
Victor Wembanyama finished with 39 points and nine rebounds. He didn’t have the raw volume of Edwards, but his impact on the final three minutes was the difference. After Donte DiVincenzo hit a three to give Minnesota a 119-118 lead with a minute left, Wemby didn't panic. He just walked down, hit a 20-footer over a double team, and then blocked rookie Joan Beringer’s layup on the very next possession.
That block was the game. It was a clean, "get that out of here" swat that led to a Keldon Johnson three-pointer. Just like that, the momentum Ant had built was gone.
What the Stats Don’t Tell You
If you just look at the box score of t wolves vs spurs, you see a close game. You don’t see the tactical war between Chris Finch and Mitch Johnson. San Antonio’s new point guard, De'Aaron Fox, had 25 points and 12 assists, and his speed was a massive problem for Mike Conley. Conley is a legend, but Fox is a blur in 2026.
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Minnesota also got hit with a "misfortune" stick early. Naz Reid, who has been playing like an All-Star lately, went out after only five minutes with a shoulder injury. That left the Wolves with virtually no rim protection. When you’re playing a team with a guy who can dunk without jumping, that’s a recipe for disaster.
The efficiency numbers were wild for this game:
- San Antonio shot 57% in that historic second quarter.
- Anthony Edwards went 5-for-7 from deep in the fourth quarter alone.
- The Spurs won the rebounding battle 41-35, which basically tells you why they won the game despite Edwards’ heroics.
The Standings Shakeup
This win was massive for San Antonio. They are currently sitting at 29-13, holding onto the 2nd seed in the West. Minnesota dropped to 27-16, which puts them in 4th. The Western Conference is a bloodbath this year. Oklahoma City is still leading the pack at 35-8, but the gap between 2nd and 6th is only a few games.
People keep waiting for the Spurs to "act like a young team" and fall off, but with Wembanyama playing like an MVP candidate, it’s not happening. On the flip side, the Wolves are still terrifying when healthy. If Gobert and Reid are on the floor, the Spurs don't get 48 points in a quarter. It's as simple as that.
Misconceptions About This Matchup
One thing people get wrong is thinking the Wolves are just "Ant and friends." Usually, their depth is their strength. Julius Randle had a quiet night by his standards, and Jaden McDaniels struggled with foul trouble. This wasn't a case of Minnesota being outclassed; it was a case of a shorthanded team running out of gas at the very end of a comeback.
Also, don't buy the narrative that Wemby "shut down" the paint. Edwards still got to his spots. The difference was that the Spurs actually have a secondary creator now in Fox. Last year, if you stopped Victor, you stopped the Spurs. This year? You have to deal with Keldon Johnson dropping 20 and Fox running the show.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
Minnesota heads to Utah on Tuesday. They need to get healthy fast. A shoulder injury for Naz Reid is the last thing they need with a tough stretch of games coming up. If Reid is out for a while, expect to see a lot more of the rookie Joan Beringer, who actually played decent minutes last night but is clearly still learning the ropes.
San Antonio stays at home to face Utah on Monday. They have a chance to build a real cushion for that 2nd seed.
If you're looking to bet on or just follow the next t wolves vs spurs game, keep an eye on the injury report. The point spread usually hovers around 3.5 to 5 points when these two meet, and they almost always hit the "Over." They play fast, they have elite scorers, and they clearly don't like each other very much.
To get the most out of following this season, you should:
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- Track the "games behind" stat for the 2nd through 5th seeds in the West; it's changing daily.
- Watch the replay of the 4th quarter from Jan 17th if you want to see how to properly defend a 55-point heater.
- Keep an eye on the defensive rating of the Wolves without Gobert; it's a glaring weakness they need to address with a trade or a scheme shift if he misses more time.
The playoffs are going to be insane if these two meet in a seven-game series. Imagine seven nights of Edwards vs. Wembanyama. That's the kind of basketball the NBA has been dreaming of.