SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama had 39 points and nine rebounds, corralling a critical offensive rebound in the final seconds, enabling the San Antonio Spurs to fend off Anthony Edwards’ season-high 55 points and beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 126-123 on Saturday night.

Donte DiVincenzo’s 24-foot, 3-pointer put the Timberwolves up 119-118 with 1:03 remaining. Wembanyama responded with a 20-footer and then blocked Joan Beringer’s reverse layup 13 seconds later to preserve the one-point lead.

De’Aaron Fox added 25 points and 12 assists as San Antonio avoided a season sweep of its three-game set against Minnesota. Keldon Johnson added 20 points for the Spurs.

Edwards had 26 points in the fourth quarter, going 5 for 7 on 3-pointers and nearly completed a repeat of Minnesota’s last game against San Antonio.

Edwards drained a 3-pointer in the final seconds on Jan. 11 as San Antonio blew a 19-point lead in the fourth quarter in losing 104-103 at Minnesota.

Edwards’ late barrage was needed after the Spurs set a season-high in the first half.

The Spurs shot 57% from the field in outscoring the Wolves 48-22 in the second quarter. It was San Antonio’s highest scoring quarter since 1987 and fourth most in franchise history for any quarter.

Wembanyama was 3 for 5 on 3-pointers in scoring 23 points in the first half, matching his season high for points in any half.

The Timberwolves rallied, as they did Jan. 11, outscoring the Spurs 40-27 in the third quarter and opened the fourth on a 9-2 run capped by a 3-pointer in the corner that Edwards punctuated by pounding his chest at the sellout crowd.

Wembanyama was scoreless through the first 10 minutes of the third quarter but ended with a flourish on a driving dunk to close the period.

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Nathan Pilling and Lucas Van Vliet tallied third-period goals Saturday night as the Tommies men’s team beat Bemidji State 3-2 for their eighth consecutive victory in St. Paul.

Lucas Wahlin had the other goal for St. Thomas (14-7-3 overall, 11-3-2 CCHA).

Max Namestnikov and Reillyn Funk each had a goal for the Beavers (9-12-3, 7-6-3)

Women: Wisconsin 5, St. Thomas 1

Casee Hall and Lacey Eden each had a pair of goals as the Badgers completed a weekend sweep of the Tommies in St. Paul.

Kelly Gorbatenko had the other goal for Wisconsin (21-1-2 overall, 15-1-2 WCHA), which won its third straight game.

Rylee Bartz had the lone goal for St. Thomas (10-14-0, 5-13-0).

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The Minnesota Department of Public Safety reported on Saturday that, at Gov. Tim Walz’s direction, the Minnesota National Guard “have been mobilized and are staging to support local law enforcement and emergency management agencies.”

In a follow-up post on X, the DPS clarified its initial post:

“They are not deployed to city streets at this time, but are ready to help support public safety, including protection of life, preservation of property and supporting the rights of all who assemble peacefully.”

It was on Jan. 8 that Walz authorized the Minnesota National Guard to be staged and ready should they be needed to assist local law enforcement with any unrest following a federal agent’s fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis on Jan. 7.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety reports that the Minnesota National Guard have been mobilized and are staging to support local law enforcement if needed. (Courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety)

At the time, Walz noted that while protests have been peaceful so far, “out of an abundance of caution and in coordination with local officials,” the Guard is being readied.

On Jan. 14, another federal officer shot a man in the leg in Minneapolis after being attacked with a shovel and broom handle while trying to make an arrest Wednesday, officials said.

On Saturday, conservative influencer Jake Lang faced counter-protesters and punches at a pro-ICE, anti-fraud rally in Minneapolis.

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DENVER — Ja’Quan McMillian intercepted Josh Allen’s deep throw in overtime, and Bo Nix led the Broncos into position for Wil Lutz’s 23-yard field goal that sent Denver to the AFC championship game with a 33-30 win over the Buffalo Bills on Saturday.

McMillian’s pick was Denver’s fifth takeaway of the game — the Broncos went into the playoffs at minus-3 in turnover differential. McMillian wrested the ball away from Brandin Cooks at the Broncos 20-yard line when a field goal would have won the game for Buffalo.

The Broncos (15-3) will face either New England or Houston for the AFC title next Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High, where top-seeded Denver has won 14 of its past 15 games.

But the Broncos got bad news after the game that Nix fractured his ankle during overtime and will have season-ending surgery.

“We played a really good football team,” Nix said. “They played really well tonight. They gave us a great shot on a short week after a tough game last week, so hat’s off to them. We found a way to win again and our defense made stops and I’m just proud of our guys. I’m just proud of this organization. I’m proud of the way we compete, we fight.

“We’re just never out of it and I think that’s just the character piece. It wasn’t always pretty, we had a good lead and they came back and it wasn’t looking good, but the fourth quarter and overtime, we just found a way to win.”

Broncos coach Sean Payton lamented Denver’s sputtering offense and 1-for-4 performance in the red zone: “We weren’t good in the red zone. But we were good enough when it mattered.”

The Bills (13-6) were flagged for pass interference twice on Denver’s final drive.

Former Broncos kicker Matt Prater nailed a 50-yard field goal with 5 seconds left in regulation, knotting it up at 30-all. That came after Nix’s 26-yard touchdown throw to Marvin Mims Jr. with 55 seconds left had given Denver a 30-27 lead.

Allen, who hadn’t turned the ball over in his previous six playoff appearances, threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles. P.J. Locke also picked off Allen.

“Extremely difficult,” a teary-eyed Allen said afterward. “I felt like I let my teammates down.”

The Bills failed once again to reach the Super Bowl with Allen under center even though Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson weren’t standing in his way this time as that trio of franchise quarterbacks all missed the postseason party.

Payton insisted the game should have ended earlier in overtime when a Denver defender was held in the end zone before Allen escaped from the end zone on second-and-9 from his 8.

Coming off the first road playoff win of his career, Allen’s first three turnovers helped Denver built a 23-10 lead before he threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Keon Coleman and a 14-yarder to Dalton Kincaid to give Buffalo a 24-23 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Allen also fumbled the ball at the Denver 23 late in the fourth quarter but right tackle Spencer Brown recovered the loose ball, setting up Prater’s 31-yarder for a 27-23 Buffalo lead.

Also in the second half, Allen threw an interception when P.J. Locke cut in front of wide receiver Curtis Samuel, who appeared to be wide open for what would have been a 43-yard touchdown.

The Broncos scored 10 points in the final 22 seconds of the first half to take a 20-10 lead into the locker room, and they got their third takeaway just two plays into the second half on Bonitto’s strip-sack of Allen that was recovered by Malcolm Roach at the Bills 17, leading to Lutz’s short field goal to make it 23-10.

Nix’s 29-yard TD pass to Lil’Jordan Humphrey broke a 10-all tie and then Bonitto stripped Allen of the ball after a long scramble up the middle. Devon Key recovered for Denver with 2 seconds left before halftime and Lutz’s 50-yarder as the half expired made it 20-10.

The Broncos’ other touchdown in the first half came from an unlikely source. They went ahead 10-7 when Nix threw to tackle-eligible Frank Crum, a second-year pro from Wyoming, Allen’s alma mater. He caught the short pass and tumbled into the end zone for a 7-yard score.

James Cook ran for 117 yards on 24 carries but lost a fumble.

When the Broncos lost to the Bills 31-7 in Buffalo last playoffs, Payton said, “We have to figure out how to get these games at home.”

They did it by leading the league in sacks (68), tying a franchise record with 14 regular-season victories, winning 11 one-score games and having 11 comebacks.

“We weren’t ready last year,” Payton said. “But we were ready today.”