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In a crucial match between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets, Anthony Edwards was determined not to let his team fall short and avoid a sweep. With 34 points on 12-of-27 shooting, Edwards led the Timberwolves to victory and kept their playoff hopes alive.
A Game to Remember
Despite putting up a team-high 34 points on 12-of-27 shooting, Edwards was his own harshest critic. "I played terrible, if you ask me," he said. "I took three bad 3s, three terrible possessions, and I damn near shot us out of the game." Despite this self-reflection, Edwards' impressive performance marked his fifth 30-point game in just 10 games, tying him with Kobe Bryant for the most 30-point playoff performances by a player at age 21 or younger.
"Just Stats"
When asked about being mentioned in the same conversation as legends like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, Edwards was quick to dismiss it. "It's just stats," he said. "Those guys have won championships, but I haven't done anything.
I haven't made it out of the first round. It's great to be mentioned with those guys, but I still have work to do."
The Wolves' Future
The disappointment of the early exit was palpable among the team's players and coaching staff.
Point guard Mike Conley emphasized the importance of moving forward, stating, "At that point, it was like, [there's] nothing we can do about the last two minutes. But we can control the next five. Let's come out here as a group and lock back in on what we did to get that lead." Coach Chris Finch similarly acknowledged the need for the team to regroup and move forward.
"I think we got to continue to get into something," he said. "I think that's part of the problem is we get down [on ourselves] or we're trying to close out the game too early." The hardest pill for the team to swallow, according to Head Coach Michael Malone, was the fact that they were "unwilling and unable to get necessary stops." The Timberwolves have much to look forward to, with a talented roster and a bright future ahead.
As Edwards himself stated, "I'm not going to settle. I settled for three bad, bad, terrible 3s, and it won't happen again."
