Anthony Edwards is turning heads in the NBA with a level of success that seems almost unreal for a 24-year-old. The Minnesota Timberwolves star is lighting up the court, averaging a career-high 29.5 points per game this season.
What’s fueling this surge? Two key areas: his improved mid-range game and his clutch time consistency.
These two facets of his play are interconnected and make Edwards a formidable playoff opponent. But let's zero in on his clutch time scoring, which is transforming him into a matchup nightmare for any team daring to face him.
Before this season, Edwards had never shot better than 43 percent in clutch situations. Fast forward to now, and he’s hitting an impressive 59.5 percent in those moments-a massive leap of 16.9 percent from last year. He’s currently second in the league for clutch points and is the frontrunner for Clutch Player of the Year.
Take his recent performance against the Dallas Mavericks as a case in point. Edwards delivered four points on three clutch shots, racking up 14 points in the fourth quarter alone.
He wrapped up the night with 40 points, leading the Timberwolves to an 11-point victory. His dominance was so pronounced that the game was only in clutch time for less than two minutes.
Edwards’ evolution as a clutch scorer is a game-changer. Teams already had their hands full with him, but now his late-game prowess adds another layer of difficulty.
Historically, he’s stepped up in the playoffs, and with this newfound clutch dominance, he might just elevate his game even further when it matters most. The Timberwolves have already reached the conference finals twice, and with Edwards’ all-around scoring prowess, a championship run is within the realm of possibility.
His improved mid-range game has been a significant factor. With career-highs of 3.8 mid-range attempts and 44.1 percent shooting from that range, Edwards has developed a reliable go-to move in crunch time-his baseline turnaround jumper. Where he was once predictable, he’s now a versatile threat, capable of scoring from anywhere on the court.
Stopping Edwards was already a tall order, but come playoff time, it might be an impossible task. He’s one of the league’s top 3-point shooters, an elite finisher, and now a deadly mid-range scorer. Defenses are left to pick their poison, especially in clutch moments.
While there might be doubts about the Timberwolves’ championship potential, Edwards’ brilliance gives them a fighting chance in any series. One thing’s for sure: no team wants to face this evolved version of Anthony Edwards in the playoffs.