3 Timberwolves most to blame for humiliating Game 2 beatdown vs. Spurs

The Minnesota Timberwolves didn’t just lose Game 2 to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night — they were thoroughly embarrassed.

The Timberwolves’ 133-95 blowout loss was the type of playoff outing that raises serious questions about toughness, leadership, and composure. From the opening tip, Minnesota looked overwhelmed by the Spurs’ pressure, energy, and execution. The Spurs dictated the pace, owned the glass, and turned Minnesota’s mistakes into a relentless transition attack.

No statistic captured the disaster better than the Timberwolves’ 22 turnovers, which directly fueled San Antonio’s 29 fast-break points. The Spurs also won the rebounding battle 60-43 and piled up 58 points in the paint. Minnesota never adjusted, settled in, or seriously threatened after falling behind early.

With that being said, three Timberwolves in particular deserve the bulk of the blame. Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, and Rudy Gobert.

Anthony Edwards

Edwards, the franchise centerpiece, still deserves criticism for his Game 2 performance, but some context matters. Edwards finished with just 12 points on 5-for-13 shooting while committing four turnovers and recording zero assists in only 24 minutes. However, the Timberwolves star is clearly still recovering from the left knee injury he suffered vs. the Denver Nuggets in the first round a little over a week ago—a hyperextension and bone bruise serious enough to put his playoff availability in doubt.

That context does not excuse the mistakes, but it does help explain why Edwards looked less explosive and struggled to control the game offensively. San Antonio’s pressure, particularly from Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox, consistently forced him into rushed decisions and uncomfortable possessions. Instead of dictating the tempo like he did in Game 1, Edwards often looked hesitant attacking downhill and lacked his usual burst in transition.

Minnesota still needs far more from its franchise player, especially in a pivotal playoff road game. But unlike some of the Timberwolves’ other issues Wednesday night, Edwards’ struggles seemed tied as much to lingering physical limitations as to poor execution. His minus-33 rating was ugly, yet it also reflected a team-wide collapse that extended far beyond one player trying to work his way back from injury.

Julius Randle

After delivering a strong Game 1 performance with 21 points and 10 rebounds—including five offensive boards and five defensive rebounds—along with two assists, Randle completely lost control in Game 2. He scored just 12 points, committed five turnovers, and struggled to generate efficient offense in half-court sets. The Spurs consistently forced him into difficult shots while exposing his defensive lapses around the rim.

More concerning was Randle’s inability to stabilize the team once the game started slipping away. The Timberwolves desperately needed physicality, patience, and composure. Instead, the veteran forward only added to the chaos with forced passes, rushed drives, and inconsistent defensive rotations. Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama and Keldon Johnson took care of the glass and imposed their physicality without resistance.

Rudy Gobert

Gobert finished with five points, four turnovers, and a brutal 3-for-9 performance from the free-throw line. More importantly, he failed at the one responsibility Minnesota pays him to handle, protecting the paint.

The Spurs attacked Gobert relentlessly, and he offered little resistance. Wembanyama controlled the interior with dunks, putbacks, and offensive rebounds as San Antonio repeatedly generated second-chance opportunities. Gobert’s minus-23 rating reflected a defense that lacked structure, communication, and urgency whenever the Spurs attacked downhill.

His offensive struggles only made the situation worse. Every missed free throw fueled the Spurs’ transition game and further drained Minnesota’s momentum.

San Antonio deserved credit for its dominance, with Wembanyama controlling the interior and the Spurs dictating the game from start to finish. But the spotlight ultimately shifts back onto Minnesota’s struggling trio of Edwards, Randle, and Gobert, whose collective failures defined the Timberwolves’ humiliating collapse. The team will now look to regroup and respond in Game 3 at home before this series slips further out of reach.

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