The Minnesota Timberwolves are walking a tightrope early in the season - and Anthony Edwards is the one keeping them from falling off.
After a rough patch that saw them get blown out by the Suns and Kings, and then outclassed by a surging Thunder squad, Minnesota bounced back with wins over Boston and San Antonio. But Monday night’s 149-142 overtime win over the New Orleans Pelicans was anything but convincing. Yes, it goes in the win column, but it also raised some red flags - particularly in how heavily the Wolves are leaning on their young star.
Let’s start with the obvious: the Timberwolves were outplayed for most of the night. New Orleans, despite their own inconsistencies, looked like the sharper, more composed team for long stretches. Minnesota needed every ounce of Anthony Edwards’ explosiveness just to stay afloat.
And Edwards delivered - again.
Anthony Edwards after playing almost 36 consecutive minutes in the OT win over the New Orleans Pelicans pic.twitter.com/LnxxDlWMVV
— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) December 3, 2025
With the Wolves trailing 129-127 in the final seconds of regulation, Edwards attacked the rim with the kind of determination that’s quickly becoming his trademark. He blew past defenders for a game-tying layup, sending the contest into overtime and giving Minnesota a second life.
From there, he kept his foot on the gas, finishing with 44 points on 16-of-30 shooting, including 6-of-13 from deep. It was a performance that screamed All-NBA - and one the Timberwolves desperately needed to avoid another letdown.
But here’s the thing: it came at a cost.
Edwards logged 47 minutes on the night. That includes a brutal stretch where he played the final 35 minutes and 27 seconds without a break.
That’s not a typo. He sat for just 5:33 of game time.
By the end, he was visibly drained - hunched over, hands on knees, completely spent. And while the heart and hustle are admirable, it’s fair to ask: why is Minnesota putting this kind of load on their franchise cornerstone this early in the year?
Yes, the Pelicans are a team you should beat - especially when you’re trying to establish yourself as a legitimate threat in the West. But needing a 44-point, ironman effort from Edwards to get past them? That’s not sustainable.
This isn’t a one-off either. The Wolves have shown a troubling tendency to play down to their competition.
Whether it’s lapses in defensive intensity or stagnant stretches on offense, they’ve let winnable games become dogfights. And it’s forcing Edwards to go into superhero mode far more often than he should have to.
There’s no question about Edwards’ talent or toughness. He’s proving night after night that he’s the engine driving this team.
But if Minnesota wants to keep him fresh - and healthy - for the long haul, they need to ease the burden. That means finding another guard who can handle some of the playmaking and scoring load.
Whether that happens through a trade or internal development, it has to happen soon.
The good news? Edwards gets a full day off before the Timberwolves face the Pelicans again - this time on the road.
The bad news? If Minnesota doesn’t figure out a way to support him better, they’re going to keep needing performances like this just to survive.
And that’s a dangerous game to play in an unforgiving Western Conference.