Anthony Edwards might not be chasing the title of “face of the NBA,” but when it comes to the Minnesota Timberwolves, there’s no debate-this is his team. And on Christmas Day, when it looked like Minnesota was headed for a loss, Edwards did what stars do: he took over.
Down late in the fourth, Edwards delivered a blistering 11-point burst in the final 3:01, including a tough, off-balance corner three that tied the game at 115 with just over a second to play. It was the kind of shot that silences a crowd-or in this case, brought one to its feet. It sent the game to overtime and reminded everyone watching that Edwards isn’t just a rising star-he’s already arrived.
This Timberwolves-Nuggets matchup has quietly become one of the league’s most intriguing rivalries, and this Christmas showdown only added fuel to the fire. These two teams know each other well, and they know how to push each other to the brink. If this is a preview of what’s coming in the 2026 playoffs, buckle up.
Edwards finished with 44 points on 14-of-25 shooting, adding six rebounds and three steals in 42 minutes of high-octane basketball. He came out firing in overtime, trying to will Minnesota to what would’ve been a statement win. But Denver had its own closer-Nikola Jokić-and the Nuggets mounted a late surge of their own, erasing a nine-point deficit and pulling out a 142-138 victory.
The ending wasn’t without drama. Edwards, who plays with emotion and edge, picked up two technical fouls late in the game and was ejected.
It was a frustrating finish to a brilliant performance, and you could feel the collective “what if?” from Timberwolves fans as he walked off the floor.
Still, there’s no denying what Edwards showed in this one. He was fearless.
He was relentless. He gave Minnesota a chance to win on one of the biggest stages of the regular season.
And while there are no moral victories in a game like this, his performance was a reminder of just how dangerous this Timberwolves squad can be when he’s locked in.
Minnesota has shown time and again that it can bounce back from tough losses, and this one might just add another log to the fire. If Edwards needed any more motivation, he’s got it now. The next time these two teams meet-March 1 at Ball Arena-you can bet he’ll have that game circled.
This rivalry is real. And Anthony Edwards is right in the middle of it.