Anthony Edwards put on a show as the Minnesota Timberwolves edged out the Los Angeles Clippers 94-88 at the Intuit Dome. With his 28th 30-point game of the season, Edwards hit the clutch shot that sealed the deal.
In a defining moment, Edwards nailed a tough stepback three over Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr., pushing the Timberwolves ahead 92-88 with just 42.9 seconds on the clock. The 24-year-old was visibly fired up, turning to his coach, Chris Finch, to make a point.
“That’s what I f***ing do,” Edwards seemed to tell Finch, showcasing his confidence.
Asked about the exchange postgame, Edwards explained it was all about a prior play where Finch had advised passing instead of shooting. Edwards responded with a big shot, proving his point.
“The play before, Finchy, when I took the midrange over two, he was like ‘Pass the ball!’” Edwards shared. “And I just told him, you don’t want me to pass the ball, you want me to shoot it.”
Earlier, Edwards had attempted a challenging fadeaway over Dunn and Brook Lopez, which didn’t go in. Finch, however, clarified he never instructed Edwards not to shoot.
“No, I didn’t tell him not to shoot the mid-range,” Finch said postgame, putting any speculation to rest.
Despite the heated moment, Edwards assured everyone that his relationship with Finch is rock solid. “Me and my coach got the best relationship ever,” he said.
“He be right most of the time. Well, 98% of the time, he be right.
He told me to pass the ball tonight, and I should have passed it, but I shot it instead. And it went in.
The basketball gods was on my side tonight.”
Edwards’ penchant for taking and making difficult shots is no accident. “I look forward to the heavily contested on two people,” he said.
“I love those type of shots. I work on those shots all the time, man.”
His training regimen includes practicing tough shots with defenders draped all over him, simulating high-pressure game situations.
This dedication has paid off, making Edwards one of the league’s premier tough-shot makers. Against the Clippers, he racked up 11 points in the fourth quarter alone, finishing with 31 points (12-24 FG), three rebounds, five assists, and a steal.
With Edwards leading the charge, the Timberwolves improved to 37-23. Next up, they face the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
ET. The Timberwolves are looking to keep their momentum going, and with Edwards in this form, they’re a force to be reckoned with.