The Minnesota Timberwolves do not need Anthony Edwards to force the issue in Game 6. They need him to own it.
That was the message from Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch before Minnesota’s elimination game against the San Antonio Spurs, with Finch making it clear that Edwards’ aggression is not just welcome; it is necessary.
“We need those games from [him] that he know, that we know he can have,” Finch said, according to a video by Timberwolves reporter Dane Moore. “I think [Anthony Edwards has] got a lot left in the tank.”
The Timberwolves trail the Spurs 3-2 in their Western Conference semifinal series after San Antonio’s 126-97 Game 5 win. Edwards led Minnesota with 20 points in that loss, but the larger issue for the Wolves was not merely how many points he scored. It was how often Minnesota was able to bend the game around him.
Finch put the next step plainly.
“We know he’s going to be super aggressive coming out here,” Finch said. “We know they’re going to try to throw multiple bodies and multiple looks at him. Things that, you know, we’re ready for, he’s ready for. And we just got to get him a lot more shots.”
“He’s has a lot… We need those games from him that we know he can have. So I think Ant’s got a lot left in the tank… We just gotta get him a lot more shots.”
Anthony Edwards Has ‘A Lot Left in the Tank,’ Minnesota Timberwolves Coach Chris Finch Said
Finch’s quote matters because it lands at the exact point where Minnesota’s season has narrowed into one question: Can Edwards create enough offense against a Spurs defense that knows everything is coming through him?
San Antonio has the series lead, home-court confidence if the matchup returns for Game 7 and a defensive game plan built around sending size and bodies at Edwards. The Spurs can live with some difficult makes if they also force the ball out of his hands, shrink his shot volume and make Minnesota’s secondary creators carry longer stretches.
That is why Finch’s “a lot left in the tank” comment is not just public encouragement. It is a strategic tell.
The Timberwolves are not asking Edwards to play hero ball for 48 minutes. They are asking him to pressure the Spurs early enough and often enough that Minnesota’s spacing, offensive rebounding and half-court rhythm can follow. When Edwards is attacking, the Wolves can generate rotations. When he is quiet or overly contained, Minnesota’s offense can look too dependent on late-clock attempts and disconnected possessions.
Game 6 is also coming after a two-day break, a detail Finch specifically mentioned. For a star who absorbs extra defenders, physical coverage and high usage, that rest matters. It gives Edwards a chance to reset after Game 5 and gives the Wolves time to sharpen the counters they expect to need.
Anthony Edwards’ Stats This Series Tell Only Part of the Story
Edwards finished Game 5 with 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including 7-of-7 at the free throw line. Those numbers are efficient enough on paper, but they also show the tension in Minnesota’s offense. In an elimination-stage playoff game, 13 field-goal attempts from Edwards is not likely to be enough if the Timberwolves are going to beat a Spurs team playing with confidence.
Edwards is averaging 23.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting 50.6% from the field against the Spurs this series, according to StatMuse. Those numbers are down from his regular season averages of 28.8 points per game, signaling that his knee injuries may be hampering him.
The Spurs’ Game 5 win was driven by Victor Wembanyama’s 27 points, 17 rebounds, five assists and three blocks, a dominant response after his Game 4 ejection. San Antonio also held Minnesota under 100 points in the blowout, continuing a defensive trend that has put pressure on the Wolves’ half-court creation.
Timberwolves-Spurs Game 6 Is Friday, May 15
Timberwolves-Spurs Game 6 is Friday, May 15. The game will be played in Minneapolis, where the Timberwolves must win to force a Game 7 in San Antonio. The Timberwolves are 4-1 at home during the 2026 playoffs, with the lone loss coming against San Antonio.
That gives the Edwards-Finch dynamic immediate stakes. This is not a long-term adjustment or an offseason talking point. It is Minnesota’s season.
The Wolves have already seen what happens when San Antonio controls the terms. Wembanyama can tilt the floor defensively, the Spurs can crowd Edwards with length, and Minnesota can spend too much of the night searching for clean offense instead of dictating it.
Finch’s quote is a bet that Edwards has another level available after the break.
For Minnesota, Game 6 may come down to whether that belief turns into shot attempts, paint pressure and the kind of star-driven urgency that elimination games usually demand. Edwards does not have to beat the Spurs alone. But if the Timberwolves are going to extend the series, he has to make San Antonio feel him more than it did in Game 5.
Anthony Edwards Gets Clear Challenge Ahead of Timberwolves-Spurs Game 6