Chris Finch pointed to physicality, rebounding, and late-game execution as the Minnesota Timberwolves outlasted the San Antonio Spurs 114-109 in Game 4 of the Western Conference second-round series on Sunday at Target Center. The win tied the series 2-2 and came in a game defined by momentum swings and Victor Wembanyama’s early ejection.
Finch said Minnesota’s ability to survive an aggressive stretch inside the paint was critical to the comeback. “It’s just more physicality standing up these drives,” he said. “They were bullying us in the paint for a lot of the time leading up to that and we weren’t doing a good enough job of standing up those drives.”
The Timberwolves stabilized the game on the glass, a theme Finch emphasized repeatedly after the win. Minnesota controlled key rebounds down the stretch, with Naz Reid and Rudy Gobert anchoring second-chance opportunities that swung momentum.
Finch highlighted the importance of those extra possessions. “We rebounded well. Obviously Ant got hot. We rode that a little bit,” he said.
Anthony Edwards’ fourth-quarter surge defined the closing stretch, with 16 of his 36 points coming late. Finch was direct when evaluating the performance. “It was awesome. It was special,” he said. “This is what he loves. This is what he lives for. Not just big games, but big moments.”
He also broke down Edwards’ efficiency when Minnesota’s spacing improved. “For the most part, when he wasn’t doubled, he got to his stuff quick and clean and just kind of figured out how to get separation,” Finch said. “That was all that he needed.”
Finch added that, given context, the performance stood among Edwards’ best. “Up near the top for sure,” he said. “Certainly up there. That’s who he is. That’s who you need him to be.”
Minnesota’s rebounding edge became a defining factor across the series, with Finch again pointing to production on second chances. “We had 30 second chance points in game three, 24 I think tonight,” he said. “Winning the glass right now is huge.”
One of the most decisive plays came from Naz Reid, whose offensive rebound and put-back added to Minnesota’s late control. Finch singled out that moment. “Nothing was bigger than Naz’s put back,” he said. “We got to make those small plays, those 30 plays, those whatever take plays.”
Finch also addressed Minnesota’s big lineup usage, which became more effective as the game tightened. “That lineup has been really pretty productive for you all along,” he said, noting adjustments made after early hesitation against smaller Spurs groupings.
He explained the decision-making behind late rotations. “I needed to get somebody who could handle next to Ant when we’re facing that pressure,” Finch said, referencing Ayo Dosunmu’s late-game minutes. “Ayo brought a lot of energy to the game towards the end.”
Even with Wembanyama’s exit shifting San Antonio’s defensive structure, Finch said Minnesota’s issues were largely self-inflicted. “I thought we let our mind slip more than anything else,” he said. “The beginning of the third wasn’t smart basketball. We turned it over a bunch. That was really what flipped the game on us.”
Finch also credited Gobert’s screening, which helped generate clean looks for Edwards and Minnesota’s half-court offense. “I thought he was outstanding on the screens,” Finch said. “He freed up a lot of good offense by his screening.”
As the series shifts back to San Antonio for Game 5, Finch made clear the focus remains on consistency rather than momentum swings. The Timberwolves have shown they can win under pressure, but he emphasized execution over emotion.
“We got to go out and find other ways to score,” Finch said. “We got to keep trying to go downhill, keep trying to make the defense react and then make the right play.”
