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Andrew Lopez ESPN
MINNEAPOLIS– Anthony Edwards wasn’t all set for his season to be over. And he definitely wasn’t all set for the Denver Nuggets to send out the Minnesota Timberwolves packaging without winning a video game in their first-round series.
” I do not ever wish to state I got swept in my profession,” Edwards stated Sunday night. “So I certainly took it personally this evening.”
With their backs versus the wall, the eighth-seeded Timberwolves removed the top-seeded Nuggets 114-108 in overtime to prevent the sweep and send out the series back to Denver with the Nuggets leading 3-1.
It appeared like the Timberwolves were going to travel to triumph late in the video game as they took a 12-point lead on an Edwards jumper with 2:52 staying, drawing a timeout from Nuggets coach Michael Malone.
From there, Denver completed guideline on a 12-0 go to send out the video game to overtime and peaceful the Target Center faithful.
The Nuggets struck 3 successive 3-pointers– one by Nikola Jokic and 2 from Michael Porter Jr.— and after that Jokic struck a jumper in the lane with 48.9 seconds delegated cut Minnesota’s benefit to 96-95. With 12.7 seconds left, Jokic was fouled and struck one of 2 totally free tosses to connect the video game.
Edwards had an opportunity to win the video game in guideline however was removed by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as he increased for a shot in the last seconds.
” At that point it resembled, [there’s] absolutely nothing we can do about the last 2 minutes. However we can manage the next 5,” Timberwolves seasoned point player Mike Conley stated. “Let’s come out here as a group and lock back in on what we did to get that lead.”
Regardless of completing with a team-high 34 points on 12-of-27 shooting, Edwards was vital of his play in the 4th quarter and his general video game in basic.
” I played awful if you ask me,” Edwards stated. “I took 3 bad threes, 3 awful ownerships, and I damn near shot us out the video game. I didn’t play that excellent tonight.”
Edwards was 1-of-5 in the 4th quarter, with his dive shot to put the Timberwolves up 12 his only make. He missed out on 3 shots prior to that– although one was a midrange 2-point effort– prior to likewise missing out on the possible video game winner at the end of guideline.
With the win in hand, Edwards stated he understands what he ‘d do in a different way if the Wolves remain in that scenario once again.
” If we’re up 6 or 8 with 3 minutes, I’m certainly getting downhill to the rim or getting a midrange shot,” Edwards stated. “I’m not going to settle. I went for 3 bad, bad, awful threes, and it will not occur once again.”
Edwards struck both of his shots in the overtime duration, with both coming at huge minutes. Initially, he struck a layup with 1:29 delegated extend Minnesota’s cause 7. However after the Nuggets scored on 3 successive ownerships, the Wolves were once again gazing down a prospective disaster.
However with 11.5 seconds to play, Edwards with confidence entered a 3-pointer after a tough crossover dribble to offer the Wolves a four-point lead.
” I wasn’t passing the ball,” Edwards stated. “I was taking the shot. I was going to deal with whether I lost us the video game or we won. And I wound up striking the shot.”
” I do not ever wish to state I got swept in my profession. So I certainly took it personally this evening.”
Anthony Edwards
While Edwards’ shot put the Wolves up easily, he called Nickeil Alexander-Walker the “MVP” of the video game.
With Jaden McDaniels out due to the fact that of a damaged right-hand man, Alexander-Walker has actually gotten the task of securing Nuggets star Jamal Murray However it was Alexander-Walker’s offense that assisted choose the video game late.
Regardless of missing out on all 3 of his 3-point efforts to that point, Alexander-Walker came through with 2 back-to-back corner threes in overtime to offer Minnesota the lead and after that press it to 5.
” Shot all set,” Alexander-Walker stated when asked what he was believing as the ball was passed to him late. “I understand the rotations, viewing a great deal of movie. Simply remained ready. I understand my colleagues are going to count on me due to the fact that they’re making that best play. And simply being positive in my work, trusting it and understanding that ultimately the law of averages, the shots need to fall.”
Malone was vital of his group’s protective efficiency in the overtime duration. After his group held the Timberwolves to simply 16 points in the 4th quarter, Minnesota had 18 in the 5 minutes of overtime.
” The hardest thing to swallow about this video game is that we hesitated and not able to get needed stops,” Malone stated.
According to ESPN Statistics & & Info research study, the Timberwolves ended up being the first string to score more points in the very first overtime duration of a video game than they carried out in the 4th quarter considering that the Phoenix Suns in Video game 6 of the 2006 playoffs (21 in OT, 17 in the 4th quarter) versus the Lakers in the preliminary.
Part of what enabled Minnesota to get its offense going once again was ball motion. The Timberwolves had 2 helps while going 7-of-19 from the field in the 4th quarter however helped on 4 of their 6 baskets in the additional duration.
” I believe we got to continue to enter into something,” Wolves coach Chris Finch stated. “I believe that becomes part of the issue is we come down [on ourselves] or we’re attempting to liquidate the video game too early.”
Edwards continued his fantastic postseason run, and Finch stated the All-Star guard is constructing off what he began a year back. In his very first 10 profession championship game, Edwards has actually scored 280 points. That’s the seventh the majority of any gamer in their very first 10 championship game considering that 1979, behind just Michael Jordan, Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Trae Young and Allen Iverson
It was Edwards’ 5th 30-point video game in those 10 video games. The only gamer with more 30-point playoff efficiencies at age 21 or more youthful is James. Edwards broke a tie with Kobe Bryant with 4.
When inquired about remaining in the very same discussion as those 2 legends, Edwards fasted to dismiss it.
” It’s simply statistics,” Edwards stated. “Those men have actually won champions … however I have not done anything. I have not made it out of the preliminary. It’s fantastic to be pointed out with those men, however I still have work to do.”