The Minnesota Timberwolves managed to steal game one from the San Antonio Spurs as their second-round series began on Monday. 

The Timberwolves held on for a 104-102 victory, watching as Julian Champagnie's last-second three fell short. 

The game was a back and forth defensive affair with 17 ties and 19 lead changes. Neither team managed to push their lead to double digits with the Spurs biggest lead being by seven and the Timberwolves biggest lead being nine in the fourth quarter. 

Minnesota was led by Julius Randle, who finished the game with 21 points. 

Before the game started, Minnesota got a big boost with the news that Anthony Edwards would be available to play after suffering a knee injury in game four in the first round. Edwards came off the bench for the first time in his playoff career, playing 25 minutes and finishing with 18 points. 

After the game, Edwards explained how he was able to return from injury as quickly as he did. 

"Right after the injury, the main thing was trying to keep it from being stiff. That's the usual outcome when you hyperextend your knee. You don't want to move it. I think I have the best physical therapist in the world, David Hines, just trusting him and working through all the pain I felt throughout the first two or three days, and getting in the pool, running on it, band work, a lot of resistance. He got me right," he said. 

Edwards suffered the injury late in the first half on April 25 against the Nuggets. He would miss games five and six with reports saying he would be out multiple weeks with a hyperextended knee and bone bruise. 

He was ultimately out nine days. 

"I felt great. I don't think I'm limited," he said after the game. 

There was optimism that Edwards would be able to play in the middle of the series with a potential return in game three or four. Getting him back in game one not only increased Minnesota's chances of stealing homecourt, it forced San Antonio to adjust. 

Edwards is the most dynamic scorer on Minnesota, and though he didn't look quite 100%, he still managed to get to his spots and looked in rhythm with his shooting, knocking down two of his three threes, and eight of his 13 overall attempts. 

Head coach Chris Finch seemed to preserve his All-Star until the fourth quarter when he played ten of his 25 minutes, and scored 11 of his 18 points.