Anthony Edwards' Heartbreaking Message After Timberwolves Win on Mother's Day

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated May 11, 2026 6:53 AM ET

Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards lost his mother to cancer in 2015. This is where he drew inspiration from for Sunday’s Mother’s Day game against the San Antonio Spurs.

Edwards went off for a game-high 36 points on 13-of-22 from the floor. The four-time All-Star also added six rebounds, two assists, a steal and three triples in 40 minutes of action.

It was a big-time performance for Edwards, who led the Wolves to a 114-109 victory in Game 4 of their second-round series against the Spurs. Thanks in large part to Edwards’ strong play, Minnesota was able to tie the series at 2-2.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards.Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Edwards sent a heartbreaking message as he spoke to the press during his postgame interview.

The 24-year-old dedicated his performance to his late mother. Edwards admitted that his mom was on his mind the whole day.

"Today is Mother's Day, I just wanted to win for my mom," he said. “… I couldn't lose this game for her.

"Today is Mother's Day, I just wanted to win for my mom."@anthonyedwards on his motivation in the 4Q!

He dropped 16 of his 36 in the final frame to propel the Timberwolves to the win in Game 4 https://t.co/rG1AZThYyK pic.twitter.com/BydFHURp6g
— NBA (@NBA) May 11, 2026

Edwards’ mother passed away when he was just in eighth grade. She died of cancer in January 2015. He then lost his grandmother to cancer just eight months later.

It was an emotional performance for Edwards, who willed the Timberwolves to a crucial win to tie the series.

The West semis will now shift back to San Antonio for Game 5 on Tuesday.

The winner of this series will face the winner between the other semifinal matchup in the conference. Right now, the defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder hold a commanding 3-0 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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