Gobert has 16 points and 21 rebounds, helps Timberwolves beat Wembanyama, Spurs 102-94
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Rudy Gobert had 16 points and 21 rebounds and the NBA-leading Minnesota Timberwolves held on to beat San Antonio 102-94 on Wednesday night for their fifth straight victory and the Spurs' 15th loss in a row.
Mike Conley added 18 points, Anthony Edwards had 17 and Naz Reid 15. Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds to help Minnesota improve to 16-4. Edwards returned after missing two games because of a right hip pointer, but went 4 of 17 from the field.
“He’s been playing phenomenal for us,” Edwards said of Gobert. "He’s the reason we’re where we’re at right now. We hope he stays healthy and continues to dominate.”
Gobert matched up often with good friend and French countryman Victor Wembanyama in the rookie’s first game in Minnesota. Wembanyama struggled against Minnesota’s height with Gobert, Towns and Reid, scoring just 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting. He had 10 rebounds.
Devin Vassell scored 22 points to lead San Antonio. Keldon Johnson added 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Zach Collins had 12 points.
“It’s promising," Wembanyama said about the defense. "But of course, our shots weren’t falling tonight either. We got to take everything we can to get better.”
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich made a change to his starting lineup, returning Vassell to the lineup for the first time in six games since he returned from a left adductor strain. Cedi Osman also made his first start.
“It's what we wanted to do," Popovich said without elaborating on the lineup changes.
The Timberwolves trailed early in the fourth quarter before 3-pointers from Edwards and Reid spurred a 16-2 run.
“There just wasn’t enough competitive spirit on the ball," Minnesota coach Chris Finch said of the defense in the first half. “We came out, obviously had Rudy back in the lineup and he made all the difference in the world tonight, as he has been. We found some teeth defensively. But really, I thought we were just kind of out there in the first half at three-quarter speed.”
Minnesota is still without starting forward Jaden McDaniels because of a sprained right ankle. He has been cleared to participate in individual on-court and strength training activities.
“It’s fun to watch this crowd embracing us and it’s cool to feel it, because we’ve been through a lot of adversity last year,” Gobert said. “Came back this year, had a great training camp and we’re working hard every day.”
UP NEXT
Spurs: Host Chicago on Friday night.
Timberwolves: At Memphis on Friday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Victor Wembanyama vs. Rudy Gobert (Devin Vassell gains possession) | ||
| 11:38 |  | Victor Wembanyama misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 11:34 | | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | ||
| 11:27 | | Anthony Edwards misses two point pullup bank jump shot | ||
| 11:24 | | Zach Collins defensive rebound | ||
| 11:18 | | Mike Conley shooting foul (Cedi Osman draws the foul) | ||
| 11:18 | | Cedi Osman misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 11:18 | | Spurs offensive rebound | ||
| 11:18 | | Cedi Osman misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 11:14 | | Cedi Osman offensive rebound | ||
| 11:01 | | Spurs turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 10:49 | | Anthony Edwards misses two point driving layup | ||
| 10:48 | | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | ||
| 10:43 | | Victor Wembanyama misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:42 | | Spurs offensive rebound | ||
| 10:35 | | Zach Collins misses two point jump shot | ||
| 10:34 | | Cedi Osman offensive rebound | ||
| 10:31 | | Devin Vassell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:28 | | Victor Wembanyama offensive rebound | ||
| 10:28 | | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point tip layup | 2-0 |
| 10:11 | | Karl-Anthony Towns turnover (lost ball) (Keldon Johnson steals) | ||
| 10:07 | | +2 | Devin Vassell makes two point running dunk (Keldon Johnson assists) | 4-0 |
| 9:41 | | Rudy Gobert misses two point jump shot | ||
| 9:41 | | Devin Vassell defensive rebound | ||
| 9:27 | | Zach Collins misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:24 | | Mike Conley defensive rebound | ||
| 9:18 | | Keldon Johnson shooting foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul) | ||
| 9:18 | | Anthony Edwards misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 9:18 | | Timberwolves offensive rebound | ||
| 9:18 | | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-1 |
| 9:03 | | Devin Vassell misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:59 | | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | ||
| 8:51 | | Mike Conley misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:47 | | Zach Collins defensive rebound | ||
| 8:38 | | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point driving floating jump shot (Zach Collins assists) | 6-1 |
| 8:24 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:23 | | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 8:22 | | Keldon Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Mike Conley steals) | ||
| 8:16 | | +3 | Mike Conley makes three point pullup jump shot | 6-4 |
| 8:04 | | +2 | Zach Collins makes two point floating jump shot (Keldon Johnson assists) | 8-4 |
| 7:48 | | +2 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes two point layup | 8-6 |
| 7:31 | | +2 | Zach Collins makes two point hook shot (Cedi Osman assists) | 10-6 |
| 7:19 | | Rudy Gobert offensive foul (Cedi Osman draws the foul) | ||
| 7:19 | | Rudy Gobert turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 7:03 | | Keldon Johnson turnover (bad pass) (Anthony Edwards steals) | ||
| 6:58 | | +3 | Mike Conley makes three point jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 10-9 |
| 6:39 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker shooting foul (Keldon Johnson draws the foul) | ||
| 6:39 | | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:39 | | +1 | Keldon Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 11-9 |
| 6:39 | | +1 | Keldon Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 12-9 |
| 6:23 | | +3 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes three point pullup jump shot (Troy Brown Jr. assists) | 12-12 |
| 6:02 | | +2 | Zach Collins makes two point turnaround bank hook shot | 14-12 |
| 5:45 | | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point driving layup | 14-14 |
| 5:21 | | Jeremy Sochan turnover (lost ball) (Mike Conley steals) | ||
| 5:11 | | +2 | Rudy Gobert makes two point dunk | 14-16 |
| 5:10 | | Spurs 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:48 | | Keldon Johnson misses two point pullup bank jump shot | ||
| 4:43 | | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | ||
| 4:34 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:32 | | Cedi Osman defensive rebound | ||
| 4:21 | | Keldon Johnson misses two point jump shot | ||
| 4:17 | | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | ||
| 4:08 | | Jeremy Sochan blocks Naz Reid's two point layup | ||
| 4:07 | | Timberwolves offensive rebound | ||
| 4:05 | | Naz Reid misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:00 | | Julian Champagnie defensive rebound | ||
| 3:48 | | +2 | Tre Jones makes two point driving layup | 16-16 |
| 3:32 | | +2 | Naz Reid makes two point driving layup (Kyle Anderson assists) | 16-18 |
| 3:23 | | +2 | Tre Jones makes two point driving layup | 18-18 |
| 3:09 | | Troy Brown Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:07 | | Spurs defensive rebound | ||
| 3:07 | | Karl-Anthony Towns personal foul (Loose ball) (Jeremy Sochan draws the foul) | ||
| 2:58 | | Tre Jones misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 2:57 | | Spurs offensive rebound | ||
| 2:55 | | Naz Reid blocks Malaki Branham's two point layup | ||
| 2:52 | | Malaki Branham offensive rebound | ||
| 2:48 | | Tre Jones misses two point driving reverse layup | ||
| 2:46 | | Zach Collins offensive rebound | ||
| 2:46 | | +2 | Zach Collins makes two point tip layup | 20-18 |
| 2:38 | | Malaki Branham shooting foul (Kyle Anderson draws the foul) | ||
| 2:38 | | Kyle Anderson misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 2:38 | | Timberwolves offensive rebound | ||
| 2:38 | | +1 | Kyle Anderson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 20-19 |
| 2:18 | | Zach Collins misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 2:16 | | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | ||
| 2:16 | | Anthony Edwards turnover (traveling) | ||
| 2:08 | | Julian Champagnie misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:06 | | Naz Reid defensive rebound | ||
| 1:55 | | +2 | Naz Reid makes two point turnaround hook shot | 20-21 |
| 1:31 | | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point turnaround jump shot | 22-21 |
| 1:17 | | +2 | Naz Reid makes two point driving layup (Anthony Edwards assists) | 22-23 |
| 0:59 | | Kyle Anderson blocks Jeremy Sochan's two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 0:59 | | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | ||
| 0:43 | | +2 | Rudy Gobert makes two point cutting dunk (Anthony Edwards assists) | 22-25 |
| 0:29 | | Jeremy Sochan misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:26 | | Victor Wembanyama offensive rebound | ||
| 0:24 | | Victor Wembanyama misses two point reverse layup | ||
| 0:23 | | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | ||
| 0:20 | | Anthony Edwards turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 0:05 | | Devin Vassell misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:02 | | Troy Brown Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | Troy Brown Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Timberwolves offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:50 | | Anthony Edwards turnover (bad pass) (Tre Jones steals) | ||
| 11:39 | | Tre Jones misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:37 | | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | ||
| 11:20 | | Victor Wembanyama shooting foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul) | ||
| 11:20 | | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-26 |
| 11:20 | | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-27 |
| 11:03 | | Rudy Gobert shooting foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | ||
| 11:03 | | +1 | Victor Wembanyama makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-27 |
| 11:03 | | Victor Wembanyama misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 11:01 | | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | ||
| 10:48 | | Tre Jones personal foul (Shake Milton draws the foul) | ||
| 10:40 | | Naz Reid misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:36 | | Doug McDermott defensive rebound | ||
| 10:26 | | Kyle Anderson blocks Doug McDermott's three point jump shot | ||
| 10:24 | | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | ||
| 10:22 | | Tre Jones personal foul (Naz Reid draws the foul) | ||
| 10:16 | | Naz Reid misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:12 | | Rudy Gobert offensive rebound | ||
| 10:07 | | Anthony Edwards misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 10:03 | | Tre Jones defensive rebound | ||
| 9:55 | | Tre Jones misses two point driving layup | ||
| 9:51 | | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | ||
| 9:47 | | Shake Milton misses two point driving layup | ||
| 9:46 | | Spurs defensive rebound | ||
| 9:46 | | Rudy Gobert personal foul (Loose ball) (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | ||
| 9:32 | | +2 | Devin Vassell makes two point driving layup | 25-27 |
| 9:20 | | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point driving layup (Naz Reid assists) | 25-29 |
| 9:09 | | Jeremy Sochan misses two point driving hook shot | ||
| 9:09 | | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | ||
| 9:00 | | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point cutting layup (Kyle Anderson assists) | 25-31 |
| 9:00 | | Spurs 60 second timeout | ||
| 8:39 | | +3 | Doug McDermott makes three point jump shot (Tre Jones assists) | 28-31 |
| 8:17 | | Karl-Anthony Towns offensive foul (Charge) (Tre Jones draws the foul) | ||
| 8:17 | | Karl-Anthony Towns turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 8:04 | | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point layup (Devin Vassell assists) | 30-31 |
| 7:52 | | Naz Reid turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 7:41 | | Victor Wembanyama misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:39 | | Shake Milton defensive rebound | ||
| 7:25 | | Naz Reid misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:22 | | Karl-Anthony Towns offensive rebound | ||
| 7:19 | | +2 | Naz Reid makes two point reverse layup (Karl-Anthony Towns assists) | 30-33 |
| 7:09 | | +3 | Devin Vassell makes three point jump shot (Doug McDermott assists) | 33-33 |
| 6:58 | | +3 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes three point jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 33-36 |
| 6:38 | | Victor Wembanyama misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 6:36 | | Mike Conley defensive rebound | ||
| 6:32 | | Anthony Edwards misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:29 | | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | ||
| 6:18 | | Tre Jones misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:15 | | Naz Reid defensive rebound | ||
| 6:09 | | Karl-Anthony Towns turnover (traveling) | ||
| 5:52 | | +3 | Devin Vassell makes three point pullup jump shot | 36-36 |
| 5:34 | | Kyle Anderson misses two point floating jump shot |