Everyone has been left in awe by Anthony Edward after he guided the Minnesota Timberwolves to a huge 106-99 win over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night. With that win in Mile High City, Minnesota was able to take a 1-0 series lead versus the defending champions, but it appears that Edwards is what everyone’s been buzzing about at the moment. Even NBA legends and former players can’t stop raving about the former No. 1 overall pick.
Edwards went down to work early against the Nuggets, sending a strong message right away by scoring 16 points in the first quarter. In the fourth quarter, Edwards did not let up and scored 12 points on 4/5 shooting from the floor to help the Timberwolves repulse Nikola Jokic and company in enemy territory.
“The whole team, we trust each other,” Edwards said after Game 1, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). “It doesn’t matter down the stretch who takes the shot. … I trust my teammates.”
Edwards can play down his incredible performance but everyone is a witness to his incredible showing against the same team that eliminated the Timberwolves from the playoffs in 2023. Overall, Edwards scored 43 points on 17/29 shooting from the floor and added seven rebounds, three assists, a steal, and two blocks in 42 minutes of outstanding work for the Timberwolves, who remain undefeated in the 2023 postseason.
Edwards, who led the Timberwolves to a shocking sweep of Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns in the first round, is averaging 33.4 points on 53.2 percent shooting from the field through five games in the playoffs. He is feeling unstoppable. The Nuggets will have to find a solution sooner rather than later or hope that Edwards regresses and cools down.
Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards wows NBA legends
“I’m not sure what’s developing with this kid Anthony Edwards I just know Im liking it,” former Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce said on X (the social media platform previously referred to as Twitter).
From former NBA Sixth Man of the Year winner Eddie Johnson: “Anthony Edwards is exploding right before our very eyes. Enjoy.”
“Now I guess people will start to understand how good this Minnesota team and Ant Man is, instead of focusing on the Suns. They won 56 games people!@nba” Johnson added.
Dwyane Wade, who knows a thing or two about having a big game in the playoffs also shared a short but meaningful take on Edwards’ performance for the Timberwolves: “DIFFERENT.” the former Miami Heat superstar shooting guard said on X.
Of course, former Timberwolves franchise player Kevin Garnett had something to say as well (in the form of emojis): “🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺”
Meanwhile, former NBA champion and ex-NBA Defensive Player of the Year Metta Sandiford-Artest admits that Edwards blew him away after seeing the Timberwolves star light up Denver.
“It’s my first time watching a full game of Anthony. First time watching a full game. And, wow, he’s one of the closest, kind of, even more polished than Brandon Roy. Because Brandon Roy was dope. I wish his career would have lasted. He would have been all the fame of people. You know, if you don’t know Brandon Roy, he definitely messed up. But, but Anthony Edwards’ game is solid. Like, MJ, I didn’t understand what people was talking about. And he got the… I think MJ deepens was a little bit better.”
