Sports
Spurs aim to keep rolling in West semis as Wolves' chances improve
Apr 28, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) pumps his fist after a victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images The San Antonio Spurs look to parlay their power, overall depth and momentum into a victory when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinal series.
Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is on Wednesday in the Alamo City before the series shifts to Minneapolis for Games 3 and 4 on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
Second-seeded San Antonio earned a spot in the semis after beating seventh-seeded Portland in five games while Minnesota, the sixth seed, eliminated third-seeded Denver in six games.
Expect defense to be at the forefront of the series, especially with French big men Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs — the reigning unanimous Defensive Player of the Year — and Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert, a four-time winner of that award (most recently in 2024), roaming the paint. The two were teammates on France’s Olympic squad in 2024 and Gobert has been a mentor for the 22-year-old Wembanyama.
“I’ve watched him evolve. I’ve watched the way he works, the way he takes care of himself, his thirst for knowledge,” Gobert said Saturday about Wembanyama. “Outside of the talent, he’s someone that is a very unique soul, very unique mind. Nothing is an accident. It’s not an accident he’s having the success he’s having. He’s preparing his mind, preparing his body like I’ve rarely seen someone do.”
Much of the discussion, at least for the early part of the series, was about how the Timberwolves can compete without star guard Anthony Edwards, who missed the final two games of the Denver series with a hyperextended left knee and bone bruise.
However, ESPN reported Monday afternoon that Edwards has received medical clearance and is expected to play in Game 1, pending final sign-off after his pregame routine.
After being cleared for basketball activities on Saturday and listed as questionable on Sunday’s injury report, ESPN reported Edwards was a “significant participant” in the team’s shootaround Monday morning and video clips on social media showed him shooting jumpers and wearing a sleeve on his injured left knee.
Minnesota will be without Ayo Dosunmu, who was downgraded to out for Monday’s game with a calf injury that also kept him out of Game 6 against Denver.
Minnesota relied on its reserve players and a career-playoff high 24 points from Terrence Shannon Jr. in the clinching 110-98 win on Friday, and will lean heavily on its bench against the Spurs.
Minnesota coach Chris Finch lauded his team for coming together in the face of adversity and a slew of injuries. That included the play of Shannon, who was all over the court in Friday’s victory.
“I thought he’d give us a boost. I didn’t realize it would be like this,” Finch said about Shannon. “Not just with his scoring, but I think he made a lot of emotional energy plays that got the crowd into it. This is one of the best collective efforts that we’ve had here. Just all the adversity that we’ve faced through that series, and keep fighting, keep guarding, and keep leaning into defense.”
Without Dosunmu and if Edwards can’t ultimately go at game-time, it may be up to Gobert, forward Julius Randle (second to Edwards this season at 21.1 ppg) and the rest of the team’s role players.
It’s Minnesota’s third straight trip to the West semifinals.
“Very saddened about all of their injuries,” Wembanyama said about Minnesota’s walking wounded, “but we’re excited. We’re locked in. We know it’s going to be harder than our first series. (The Timberwolves have) great individual players. Tough team. It’s just a team that forces you to be on for 48 minutes every time.”
The Spurs have had six days to rest after closing out their series versus Portland with a 114-95 home win on April 28. De’Aaron Fox led San Antonio, scoring 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, while Wembanyama added 17 points, 14 rebounds and six blocked shots in the victory as the Spurs won their first playoff series since the 2016-17 campaign.
San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson understands that his team will be hard-pressed to beat the Timberwolves. Minnesota won two of the three games against the Spurs in the regular season, both of them on its home court.
“They guard, they’re physical, they try to impose their will and their competitiveness on you,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said Saturday about the Timberwolves. “And they got a lot of individuals that take pride in that. In terms of their style of play and their disposition and brand I don’t think (the injuries) changes too much.
“Obviously, they showed the type of character and resolve and competitiveness they have.”
Fox could be the wild card in the series. He has averaged 23 points per game in his career against Minnesota, his third-highest average against any opponent.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Sabres F Sam Carrick (arm) could practice on Tuesday
Mar 31, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Sam Carrick (10) goes off the ice with an injury during the third period against the New York Islanders at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images Buffalo Sabres forward Sam Carrick is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a left arm injury and could return to practice on Tuesday.
Carrick, 34, initially was expected to miss the Eastern Conference second-round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens. The best-of-seven set begins Wednesday night in Buffalo.
“(He’s) going to see our doctors today and thinks he’s further along than maybe I portrayed yesterday,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said Monday. “So, with good news, he could join our team back in practice tomorrow, which is great news. That would put him a little bit ahead of schedule.”
Carrick has not played or practiced since he was injured in a March 31 fight against the New York Islanders.
Acquired from the New York Rangers at the trade deadline, Carrick recorded five goals and one assist in 13 games for the Sabres.
Carrick has 89 points (43 goals, 46 assists) and 439 penalty minutes in 393 career games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton Oilers, Rangers and Sabres.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Panthers add longtime S Mike Adams to coaching staff
Nov 4, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers free safety Mike Adams (29) on the sidelines with defensive tackle Dontari Poe (95) in the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images The Carolina Panthers will hire longtime NFL safety Mike Adams to assist the coaching staff, multiple outlets reported Monday.
Adams, 45, began his NFL career in 2004 with the San Francisco 49ers and played for two seasons (2017-18) for the Panthers. He had 935 tackles and 30 interceptions over 16 seasons and 228 games with the 49ers (2004-06), Cleveland Browns (2007-11), Denver Broncos (2012-13), Indianapolis Colts (2014-16), Panthers and Houston Texans (2019).
He was named to consecutive Pro Bowls from 2014-15 with the Colts.
Adams will initially join the staff as a Bill Walsh coaching fellow, in an initiative to promote diversity in the coaching ranks. He will be utilized during offseason workout programs and in training camp.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Playing status of Wolves' Anthony Edwards still unclear
Mar 3, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) celebrates after a three point basket against the Memphis Grizzlies in the second half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images Anthony Edwards is eager to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night, but he still hasn’t been given the green light from medical staff, ESPN reported.
The Timberwolves visit the San Antonio Spurs for Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. Per ESPN, Edwards was a “significant participant” in the team’s shootaround Monday morning and video clips on social media showed him shooting jumpers and wearing a sleeve on his injured left knee.
He is listed as questionable on the injury report. He suffered a hyperextended left knee and a bone bruise on an awkward landing in Minnesota’s Game 4 victory over the Denver Nuggets in the first round on April 25. He avoided ligament damage but did not play in the rest of the series.
ESPN reported that a decision on Edwards’ status won’t come until closer to the 9:30 p.m. ET game time.
Teammate Julius Randle told reporters after shootaround that he wouldn’t be surprised to see Edwards on the court for tipoff.
“He loves to play the game so he’s going to do whatever he can to put himself in position to be out here,” Randle said.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Edwards is in his sixth season with Minnesota. In the first three games of the series against the Nuggets, Edwards averaged 23 points, four assists and eight rebounds. He added five blocks.
The four-time All-Star averaged a career-high 28.8 points per game on 48.9% shooting, including 39.9% from 3-point range, in the regular season (61 games).
Ayo Dosunmu, who led the Timberwolves in scoring in the Denver series (21.8 points per game), including 43 points in Game 4, is also questionable due to right calf soreness. He missed the clinching Game 6 win over the Nuggets with the ailment.
If Edwards, 24, does not play on Monday, his next opportunity will come Wednesday in Game 2 in San Antonio. The series shifts to Minneapolis with Game 3 on Friday.
–Field Level Media
Sabres F Sam Carrick (arm) could practice on Tuesday
Panthers add longtime S Mike Adams to coaching staff
