Edwards dedicates T-Wolves' Game 4 win to late mother

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards dedicated the team's 114-109 Game 4 victory over the San Antonio Spurs to his late mother after dropping a game-high 36 points.

"Today is Mother's Day. I just wanted to win for my mom. It was that simple," he said after Minnesota tied the series, according to ESPN's Anthony Slater.

Asked whether he was thinking about his mother Sunday, Edwards said, "For sure. I couldn't lose this game for her."

In 2015, Edwards' mother, Yvette Edwards, died of cancer. His grandmother, Shirley Edwards, died eight months later, also from cancer. They each died on the fifth of the month, which is why Edwards has said he wears No. 5. There were portraits of his mother and grandmother next to him when he was drafted first overall in 2020.

Edwards' 36 points were the most he's scored during Minnesota's 2026 playoff run. The guard dominated in the fourth quarter, dropping 16 points while playing all 12 minutes. His final basket of the game came on a tough layup attempt with under 2:30 remaining to put the Timberwolves up four.

Minnesota took advantage of Spurs star Victor Wembanyama's ejection in the second quarter. Wembanyama was assessed a flagrant-2 foul for elbowing Naz Reid in the chin. The Spurs forward registered 19 blocks in the first three games of the series, and the entire team recorded just three blocks Sunday night.

"Honestly, I think it was kind of harder (without Wembanyama)," Edwards said. "Of course, they are a really great team with him on the floor, but they play a lot slower when he's on the floor. It's just like when every team is missing their best player and everyone (else) plays free, more confident. ...

"Everybody knows the rim is going to be a lot more open when he's not on the floor. He's 8 feet tall, so, yeah, he going to cover up the rim every time he's on the floor."

Minnesota will look to take a 3-2 series advantage in Game 5 on Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. ET.