Despite Victor Wembanyama’s record-breaking performance with 12 blocks, the San Antonio Spurs narrowly fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening game of their playoff series. Meanwhile, the New York Knicks delivered a historic thrashing to the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Timberwolves continued their impressive playoff run, securing an away victory against the Spurs. This follows their earlier upset win against the Denver Nuggets. The Knicks, on the other hand, showed no signs of fatigue, overwhelming the 76ers with a dominant performance, which also featured a strong showing from a young German player.
San Antonio Spurs (W2) — Minnesota Timberwolves (W6) 102:104 — Series: 0-1
The Timberwolves narrowly escaped a late surge from the Spurs. With 50 seconds left, Minnesota held a six-point lead, but a quick dunk by Victor Wembanyama, a turnover, and subsequent points by Dylan Harper, followed by a missed jumper from Julius Randle, brought the Spurs within two points with only six seconds on the clock. Julian Champagnie had a chance to win the game with a three-pointer after a fake, but the shot hit the rim, sealing the upset victory for Minnesota.
A significant surprise before the game was the readiness of Anthony Edwards, who, despite a knee injury sustained just over a week prior, was available to play. Initially, it was reported he would miss several weeks due to a bone bruise and hyperextended joint. While earlier reports suggested a quicker return, such a swift comeback was unexpected. Edwards, coming off the bench, made an immediate impact, sinking his first shot and signaling his return. Though appearing somewhat hampered at times, he contributed a strong 18 points (8/13 FG, 2/3 3FG) in 25 minutes.
Julius Randle was the leading scorer for the Timberwolves with 21 points and a double-double (10 rebounds). Jaden McDaniels added 16 points. In the backcourt, with Edwards starting on the bench, Mike Conley (12 PTS, 6 AST) and Terrence Shannon Jr. (16 PTS) were instrumental. Rudy Gobert struggled from the free-throw line (1/5 FT) but tallied 7 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 steals.
Wembanyama’s defensive prowess was on full display. After recording his first block early in the game, he followed it up with another immediately after a Gobert block. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year blocked seven shots by halftime and ten by the end of the third quarter, finishing the game with a playoff record of 12 blocks. This surpassed Mark Eaton’s 41-year-old record from 1985. Hakeem Olajuwon (1990) and Andre Bynum (2010) had previously recorded 10 blocks in a playoff game.
Wembanyama achieved an incredible triple-double, also recording 11 points and 15 rebounds. However, his offensive efficiency was limited, shooting poorly from the field (5/14 FG) and missing all eight of his three-point attempts (0/8 3FG).
De’Aaron Fox also struggled from beyond the arc (0/4 3FG), finishing with only 10 points and 6 turnovers. Backup guard Dylan Harper was the Spurs’ top scorer with 18 points, along with 4 rebounds and 4 assists, and no turnovers. Champagnie and Stephon Castle, who fouled out late in the game, each scored 17 points.
Both teams have a short turnaround before Game 2, which takes place early Thursday morning in Texas, where the Spurs will aim to even the series.
New York Knicks (E3) — Philadelphia 76ers (E7) 137:98 — Series: 1-0
The Knicks are on a dominant streak. After sweeping the Atlanta Hawks in the previous round with substantial winning margins, they delivered a 39-point blowout to the 76ers in Game 1 of their second-round series. The Knicks are the first team in recorded history to lead three consecutive playoff games by over 30 points and win three consecutive games by at least 25 points.
After briefly leading 13:10 early in the game, the 76ers showed the effects of a grueling Game 7 against the Boston Celtics. The Knicks quickly turned the tide, ending the first quarter with a 33:25 lead. Their momentum continued into the second quarter with an 8:0 run. Jalen Brunson scored 11 points in the final minute and a half before halftime, giving the Knicks a commanding 74:51 lead. By the early stages of the second half, the game was effectively decided, with reserves playing significant minutes for both teams.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with an outstanding 35 points (12/18 FG), with 27 of those coming in the first half. Josh Hart filled the stat sheet with 8 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Other starters also contributed significantly, with OG Anunoby scoring an efficient 18 points (7/8 FG), narrowly ahead of Karl-Anthony Towns (17) and Mikal Bridges (17).
German center Ariel Hukporti saw early playing time due to foul trouble for the Knicks’ big men, logging 17:27 minutes. He contributed 5 points (2/2 FG, 1/1 FT), a game-high 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
The Knicks showcased exceptional shooting throughout the game, with 63.1% field goal percentage and 51.4% from three-point range. Sixers coach Nick Nurse acknowledged the Knicks’ superior play, stating, «They clearly took us apart and moved the ball much better than we did.» None of his starters played more than 30 minutes as the game was decided so quickly.
Paul George was the top scorer for the 76ers with 17 points. Joel Embiid, who had a key return in the previous series, managed to draw fouls (8/9 FT) but struggled with his shot (14 points, 3/11 FG). Co-star Tyrese Maxey also found success primarily at the free-throw line (13 points, 3/9 FG, 7/7 FT). Rookie VJ Edgecombe and Kelly Oubre Jr. each added 12 points.
Game 2 will be played again at Madison Square Garden early Thursday morning.
NBA Playoffs 2026: Second Round Standings Overview
| Conference | Matchup | Stand |
|---|---|---|
| Western | Thunder (1) — Lakers (4) | 0-0 |
| Western | Spurs (2) — Timberwolves (6) | 0-1 |
| Eastern | Pistons (1) — Cavaliers (4) | 0-0 |
| Eastern | Knicks (3) — Sixers (7) | 1-0 |