MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) It’s Anthony Edwards’ world, and we’re all just living in it.
The Minnesota Timberwolves superstar guard put on a show Saturday in a 120-95 win over the Phoenix Suns to open the Western Conference Playoffs and let Kevin Durant hear about it. Edwards had 33 points and took over the game with 18 of them in the third quarter.
“Handle the ball for him. entertaining to see, and in the past, those runs have occasionally resulted in a poor run. Following the victory, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch observed, “You can see the growth that he played under control and continued to make the right play.” “When he does those things, he can control a game.”
Anthony Edwards. 😂🔥
pic.twitter.com/XVYDcXo9H4 https://t.co/HOuYZ7gqlN
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 20, 2024
Anthony Edwards has words for KD
Playoff Ant has arrived. 🔥🔥
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 20, 2024
He hit a 3-pointer in the final minute of the third to put the Timberwolves up 86-70 and let Durant hear about it the entire way back down the floor. Durant’s reaction was priceless, with him smiling, laughing, and largely ignoring it.
“M-V-P! M-V-P! M-V-P!”
Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards met w/ @leabolsen after leading Minnesota to a 25-point win vs. the Suns. #WolvesBack pic.twitter.com/2uG2GDW5KW
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) April 20, 2024
Edwards made 14 of 24 field goals and 4 of 8 three-pointers. That follows a first quarter that saw two fouls and four turnovers to start the contest. The supporters were yelling “MVP!” as he was interviewed on Bally Sports North following the game.
“Believe that!” stated Edwards. “It was a unique experience, but it was just one game. We still have three games left to win, so this is just one.”
A combined 30 points were scored off the bench by Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Naz Reid, while Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 19 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Former player Adrian Peterson and Vikings star Justin Jefferson were courtside as Rudy Gobert had 14 points and 16 rebounds.
With 31 points, Durant led the Suns, but the other players on the team didn’t really contribute much.
Though Naz Reid may have had the game’s best play, Edwards was the star of the show. In the fourth quarter, the 6-10 center stole the ball and went the length of the court to beat Bradley Beal on a reverse lay-up that enthralled the Target Center crowd and left the whole Timberwolves bench in disbelief. Reid scored twelve points in the end.
NAZ REID pic.twitter.com/gSD8JnZS2c
— Superdrunkmark69 (@cjzer0) April 20, 2024
After the Timberwolves’ 125-106 loss to the Suns to close the regular season and guarantee this playoff matchup, fans were curious about what to expect in Game 1. When it came to the postseason, Minnesota was more than prepared and demonstrated that a 0-3 record versus Phoenix during the regular season meant nothing.
“We needed to step up our performance. As we did early in the season when we were attempting to establish ourselves, we played gritty, desperate basketball with a chip on our shoulder,” Finch remarked. “The guys did a good job of coming out hungry with something to prove.”
Target Center will host the second game on Tuesday night.
