Anthony Edwards Delivers a Dagger-and a Message-as Timberwolves Hand Thunder Rare Loss
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been one of the NBA’s steadiest forces this season-until now. After losing just once over the first three months of the regular season, they’ve now dropped two games in a week. And the latest one stung, delivered by a confident, fearless Anthony Edwards who didn’t just take the shot-he took the moment.
With OKC clinging to a 107-105 lead late in the fourth, Edwards sized up the defense and pulled up from deep. No hesitation.
No second-guessing. Just pure conviction.
The shot splashed through, flipping the scoreboard and flipping the script on a game that had been slipping away from Minnesota. The Timberwolves went on to close it out 112-107, and Edwards didn’t waste time letting people know-this was personal.
After the game, the 2020 No. 1 overall pick addressed the criticism he’s received for always opting for the win rather than playing it safe and going for a tie. And he didn’t hold back when it came to one of his most vocal critics: Gilbert Arenas.
“I receive a lot of negative criticism because I never go for the tie,” Edwards said. “I heard Gilbert Arenas not too long ago say I’m trying to go home. I’m going for the game every time.”
It’s classic Ant. He’s not wired to play for overtime.
He’s wired to win. And while that mindset can be risky-especially when the shot doesn’t fall-it’s also what makes him one of the most electric young stars in the league.
Let’s be real: this could’ve gone sideways. If that three rims out and the Thunder grab the rebound, OKC likely walks away with the win, and Edwards faces a very different postgame narrative. The critics would’ve come in loud, led by the likes of Arenas, questioning the decision to pass up a higher-percentage look or a chance to extend the game.
But that’s the thing-Edwards doesn’t care. He plays with a fearless edge that doesn’t flinch under pressure.
It’s not recklessness; it’s belief. And against one of the league’s best teams, that belief paid off.
The win was more than just a highlight-reel moment-it was a big one in the standings, too. Minnesota now holds a firmer grip on the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference, improving to 18-10 and putting two games of breathing room between themselves and the Phoenix Suns.
For the Thunder, the loss is a reminder that even the most consistent teams can be vulnerable when a player like Edwards gets hot and refuses to back down. For the Timberwolves, it’s a statement win-and for Edwards, it’s another chapter in a growing legacy of clutch moments and unwavering confidence.
He’s not just trying to go home. He’s trying to take over.