Anthony Edwards made excellent decisions on the court, knowing when to pass and when to shoot. He scored a career-high 43 points in the playoffs, setting a new record for the Timberwolves.
Naz Reid also stepped up, scoring 14 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Timberwolves secure a 106-99 victory over the defending NBA champions, the Denver Nuggets, in Game 1 of the second-round series.
Edwards was particularly dominant in the first half, scoring 25 points, while Reid took charge in the fourth quarter. Despite facing foul trouble, Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 20 points to the team’s win. The Timberwolves showcased impressive shooting skills, hitting 71.1% of their shots in the second half.
Edwards emphasized the team’s trust in each other, highlighting the collective effort in crucial moments of the game.
This performance reflects Edwards’ growth and development on the court, earning praise from his teammates like Conley, who acknowledged the quick adjustment Edwards made at a young age.
“Twenty-two,” Edwards joked. Game 2 will take place on Monday night in Denver.
Just three days after knee surgery, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch was present on the bench, although he sat in the second row due to his injury. Assistant coach Micah Nori took charge of the coaching duties, with Finch providing input on plays. Finch had ruptured his right knee’s patellar tendon during a collision with Wolves point guard Mike Conley in the previous round’s clinching game against Phoenix.
Nori jokingly remarked that the successful plays were his calls, while the unsuccessful ones were Finch’s. He praised Finch’s guidance and mentioned their focus on maintaining smooth transitions in coaching responsibilities.
Despite Nikola Jokic’s impressive performance of 32 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists for Denver, he also committed seven turnovers. Jamal Murray contributed 17 points, bouncing back after a scoreless first half.
Murray, known for his clutch plays in the previous round against the Lakers, struggled with his shooting efficiency, finishing 6 of 14 from the field.
Jokic emphasized the need for the Nuggets to improve their defense and force the Timberwolves into difficult shots or extra passes.
In a critical moment of the game tied at 84, the Timberwolves went on an 18-7 run, with Reid scoring 10 consecutive points during that stretch. Reid benefitted from the Nuggets’ defensive focus on covering Edwards consistently.
“When (Edwards) draws three people, he makes the right play all the time,” Reid said. “I’ve seen him grow from Day 1 to where he is — a superstar in the making if he’s not now.”
Last year, the Wolves were a tough first-round opponent for Denver despite being without Reid (broken wrist) and Jaden McDaniels (broken hand) and with Towns coming off a severe calf strain that had cost him 52 games. This time, not a single Timberwolves player was listed on the injury report.
“Going against the best player in the world is always fun,” Edwards said about facing Jokic. “Going against the best team in the world is always fun.”
Aside from being healthier, the Timberwolves were much better thanks to the dramatic improvement in Edwards’ game, Denver coach Michael Malone suggested.
“There’s no weaknesses in his game,” Malone said. “And it’s going to be a hell of a challenge trying to slow him down.” Especially when he has so much help.
“Naz Reid got going. Karl-Anthony Towns got going. Mike Conley got going — where Anthony Edwards carried the day in that first half,” Malone said. “But the second half I just felt not nearly enough discipline and physicality and they were able to get whatever they wanted.”
