Anthony Edwards Explains Respectful Moment With Spurs Bench Before Final Buzzer
Anthony Edwards knew the Timberwolves' season was ending, so he chose to show respect before the final buzzer. With around eight minutes left and Minnesota out of answers, Edwards walked over to the Spurs' bench and dapped up their players and coaches before being subbed out.
It was a tough moment for the Timberwolves, but Edwards' gesture stood out as a classy way to close a disappointing playoff exit.
In the post-game press conference, when asked about the decision to congratulate the Spurs players with eight minutes left on the clock Edwards said,
"At that point, you know you ain't going back in, so you're just trying to get them the respect that they deserve."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 16, 2026
Anthony Edwards speaks on why he went to the Spurs bench with 8 minutes left in the fourth
pic.twitter.com/1NB8Oxvjihhttps://t.co/nSvnOg6kAT
"At that point, you know you ain't going back in, so you're just trying to get them the respect that they deserve."
Spurs Close Out a Dominant Series Win Against the Timberwolves
San Antonio made its statement loud and early.
The Spurs walked into Minnesota for Game 6 and turned an elimination game into a blowout, beating the Timberwolves 139-109 to end the series and move into the Western Conference finals. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, there was no real suspense left, which is why Anthony Edwards went over to the Spurs' bench and gave them their respect before his night officially ended. That moment said a lot about how one-sided the finish felt.
Stephon Castle was brilliant for San Antonio, putting up 32 points and 11 rebounds while shooting with confidence from the outside. De'Aaron Fox controlled the game well with 21 points and nine assists, and the Spurs' depth kept applying pressure until Minnesota cracked.
Wembanyama did not need to dominate the scoring column this time. He finished with 19 points, but his presence still shaped the game. The Timberwolves had to respect him defensively, and that gave San Antonio's guards more room to operate.
Minnesota got 24 points from Edwards, but the Wolves never looked like they had enough answers. Julius Randle struggled badly, and the team looked drained as the Spurs kept pushing the pace.
Now San Antonio gets Oklahoma City, while Minnesota heads into the offseason after a rough ending.
Related: Magic Johnson Points to Major Pistons Advantage Ahead of Game 7 vs Cavs
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This story was originally published May 16, 2026 at 2:16 AM.