Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards took the NBA world by storm through the first two rounds of the playoffs, helping Minnesota achieve its first conference championship appearance in 20 years. However, his shot isn’t falling through two games against Dallas and it has resulted in an 0-2 hole for the team that knocked off the defending champs, The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski writes.
On Friday, Edwards had as many turnovers as field-goal attempts (two) in the fourth quarter and produced a shooting line of 29.4% (5-of-17). In his last three games, Edwards is shooting just 29.8% from the field. Karl-Anthony Towns is slumping too, shooting just 27.8% from the field in the first two games of the series compared to his 51.7% clip in the first two rounds.
As Krawczynski writes, it’s as simple as the Mavs’ stars showing up while Minnesota’s haven’t. If Edwards and Towns had shot at replacement level in the first two games, the Wolves’ outlook might be different, considering they’ve lost both games by a combined four points. That’s one key reason why Minnesota’s stars aren’t hitting the panic button yet.
“I don’t think anybody in the locker room is panicking,” Edwards said. “I hope not. Just come out and play our brand of basketball. We let ‘em make a run.”
To their credit, the Wolves are 5-1 on the road this postseason and weathered the storm of Denver winning three straight games just last round.
We have more from the Timberwolves:
- Towns played 25 minutes in Game 2, making four of his 16 shot attempts. He was benched for the final 8:40 of the fourth quarter (hat tip to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin) while Naz Reid played the entire fourth quarter and registered 23 points off the bench. “I’m with winning, so whatever it takes to win,” Towns said. “Naz has it going. Coach’s decision, I’m fully supportive of my coaching staff. Wouldn’t question them one bit. Of course, I’m always going to be ready to play whenever he calls. Naz got it going, our team was playing well.”
- While the Wolves themselves don’t seem to be worried, Edwards’ shooting calls into question whether Minnesota can win a title if the All-NBA guard isn’t shooting at his peak, The Star Tribune’s Jim Souhan writes (subscriber link). “He’s got to get more in transition,” head coach Chris Finch said. “He’s got to get out [and run]. … I thought he started the game with a great burst, was really going downhill well. That really phased out as the game went along. He went in there a few times. I thought he could do it more. I thought he turned down some open looks, too.“
- Rudy Gobert made the critical mistake of allowing Luka Doncic to get the step back he was seeking on his game-winning shot, Tony Jones of The Athletic writes. When Gobert reacted strongly to Doncic’s first step, it gave the Mavs superstar all the space he needed to get his shot off. Jones writes that it’s disappointing because Gobert has been exceptional in the playoffs and has defended similar shots from Doncic before.
Ever since Edwards waved bye-bye to Denver fans. His offense went bye-bye.
Stay humbled friends
Ant-Man looks gassed. If not for Nazz Reid hitting seven 3’s last night, the Mavs would have won the game in a blowout.
I doubt he regrets it lol. It has no correlation to his bad performance this round. Karma isn’t real.
Even if “Karma” is real, that’s not how it works…
Isn’t it something how the media has been dragging Tatum the past two series but Ant has shot 34% over his last 5 games and caught no flack for 6/24 in a game 7 just because his team won. I’m from Boston, but I’m not naive enough to say Tatum is a top 5 lock if everyone is healthy but he’s top 10 no doubt and I’d feel fine saying 7-9 range. Can’t say Ant is officially top 10 lock with everyone healthy like media is making it out to be. Back to the wall when I need them most, Luka Giannis Jokic Embiid > no debate. I’ll still take (healthy) Tatum Kawhi Steph Durant Booker Lebron SGA and Brunson.
Tatum is a very good player, but he lacks the killer instinct. Jaylon brown has the killer instinct, but not as much as MJ had. Derrick White has done more for the Celtics these playoffs than JT.
Laughing at that. Tatum hits big after big. Boston is so deep nobody remembers porzingis.
Tatum is soft, he would happily sit back and let Brown and others do the work and win him the game. He’s extremely talented he’s just not him.
Whereas ANT is that guy for Minny but just hasn’t had his shot falling this series. Tatum is more compostable to KAT who was happy to be benched for Naz Reid in the 4th lol
As for top 5’s/top 10’s cmon now …
In no particular order
Joker Embiid Luka Giannas Curry that’s a locked in 5 for me personally, then Kawhi (healthy) LeBron KD and AD make 9. Which leaves 1 spot for Tatum, SGA, Booker, ANT, Brunson, Jimmy Butler and JA.
So personally Tatum is like 9-12 range, ANT is also 9-12 range
Lol @ Tatum’s more compostable to Towns.
Ant isnt close to Tatum, people gas both of them but the Ant overhype train has gone insane
No one is saying Ant is a top 10 player, he’s where Tatum was five years when the media raved about his future as one of the biggest stars in the NBA.
All the guys you named are 25+ and with the exception of SGA have deep playoff runs under their belt. The kids only 22 and he’s cocky, brash, talented and confident so he draws attention, I have no doubt he’ll get to their levels though.
Ant is getting plenty of heat, I’m not sure what you’re talking about.
Anthony Edwards has become CAnt-Man the last few games.
Minny and Indy I am going to address you both.
1. Getting into the 3rd round is hard to do. So few teams did so the prior 30 years before the last three to the point that neither the public nor you know how to really react.
2. You had new suits put onto you that you’ve never worn before. This is a thing that brings new perceptions and heightened expectations of further success.
A thing that is heightened by any number of teams will seek to be the next you next season. Your clearly feeling the pressure of that. It’s causing both of you to play to self concinously to the point that your trying to play like teams with the kind of expierence you don’t have.
3. Expirence is clearly winning out. It’s been an uh oh here we go last 4 minutes for both. The public expects to see that on one hand. We don’t want to on the other.
We are emotionally torn in the middle.
4. My advice is to take off those suits and the heightened expectations that go with them and put your sweats back on.
Go back to doing things that got you to this dance and go back to playing your style of conscious free Hoops. Your playing to tight because your trying to be all things to the public.
Put your blinders on and forget about us.
Edwards is 22 yrs old. He’s not MJ and never will be. He’s young and still learning. And we are still learning about him. But KAT is a max player who takes plays off. And goes MIA in big gms. Minny hasn’t proven anything yet. You beat the Champs. Doesn’t make you champions ???? Minny still not there yet imo.
If they are not there now, they might never be. Mike Conley is going to retire soon and will prob retire as a Grizzlie. Then, they would have to find a replacement for him and thats a pretty tough task considering they wont have many draft picks.
Brabo- Conley just signed a 2 year extension. Grizzlies will probably be trying to compete while Ja is in his prime. Not sure they’ll have the playing time or even the room to roster him in 2026-2027.