Anthony Edwards appeared to twist his ankle with just two minutes remaining in the second quarter of the Minnesota Timberwolves match against the San Antonio Spurs. Grimacing in pain after trying to shake off Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan, the dynamic player, nicknamed “Ant-Man,” fell to the floor.
Surprisingly, there was no collision preceding his fall, leaving many spectators puzzled about the cause.
Assisted by his teammates, Edwards made his way to the locker room for evaluation, sparking concern among Timberwolves fans. However, to their relief, he emerged before halftime for a brief warm-up session. Remarkably, Edwards returned to the court and led his team to a 114-105 victory over the Spurs.
During the post-game locker room interviews, Edwards was questioned about his return to the game. As he attempted to respond, one of his teammates interjected with a humorous reference:
“Paul Pierce.”
The remark elicited laughter from the Timberwolves players, including Edwards himself. The allusion harkened back to a notable incident involving the Boston Celtics legend in the 2008 NBA Finals. Pierce had appeared to sustain a serious knee injury in Game 1 of the Finals.
Despite initial concerns, Pierce remarkably returned to the game and played a pivotal role in leading the Celtics to victory and eventually clinching the championship. This episode led to Pierce being dubbed “The Truth” and earned him the Finals MVP honors.
The comparison between Edwards and Pierce was made in jest, highlighting Edwards’ resilience and stellar performance upon his return to the court. Had Edwards not re-entered the game, the outcome might have been different for the Timberwolves, especially in the absence of Karl-Anthony Towns at the beginning of the match.
In a display of his exceptional talent, Edwards concluded the game with 34 points in 33 minutes, shooting 13-for-29 from the field and 4-for-10 from beyond the arc. Additionally, he contributed five rebounds, five assists, four steals, and one block, underscoring his significance as a two-way player and his dominance on the court.
