feature-image

Imago

feature-image

Imago

In a game where both teams struggled from deep, Anthony Edwards showed his proficiency with a game-high 31 points. Another clutch performance by the Minnesota Timberwolves star, to lift his team 94-88, at Intuit Dome on Thursday. His shot selection even led to a small disagreement with his head coach, which the 24-year-old shed more light on.

Terrell Owens holding Dude Wipes XL

Edwards sank the dagger three-pointer despite being double-teamed by Derrick Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn with only 43 seconds left. Once that went it, he looked at his coach Chris Finch, “That’s what I f–k do!”

Watch What’s Trending Now!

In the postgame interview with NBA on Prime, Ant revealed that Finch wanted him to pass the ball instead. Since Rudy Gobert was wide open in the paint. “The play before, when I took a midrange (shot), Finchie was like, ‘Pass the ball!’ You know, I just told him, you don’t want me to pass the ball, you want me to shoot it,” said Edwards.

ADVERTISEMENT

He’s third in the NBA in total clutch points this season (game within five points, fewer than five minutes left). Before the matchup against the Clippers, Anthony Edwards shot nearly 58 percent in those situations. So his confidence was warranted.

ADVERTISEMENT

Even without a blazing night from three, he got downhill and made tough mid-range looks. The game had more fouls than made threes, yet Edwards leaned on physicality, discipline, and timely shot-making. Because of this, Minnesota led most of the night and never let the Clippers fully seize momentum.

ADVERTISEMENT

Despite the clash, Anthony Edwards has all the respect for his HC

It’s not the first time that the head coach and his star players’ ideologies have been different. Be it asking Ant to hustle more, assist more, or lead his team better. Tonight was no different. Anthony Edwards finished with a game-high 31 points on 12-of-24 shooting and has earned the right to be the one taking shots when games are on the line.

“Me and my coach got the best relationship ever. I mean, he be right most of the time — 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 were on my side tonight.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Before hitting a short jumper and the clutch three, Edwards had missed four consecutive attempts, including some heavily contested shots. So, the advice from Chris Finch was not wrong. With Ant’s shot, the Timberwolves’ hot streak continues with a 5-1 record since Feb. 9. The Clippers pulled within one three times in the last 2½ minutes, but Edwards answered each time. He scored the Timberwolves’ last nine points.

Share this with a friend:

Link Copied!

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Written by

author-image

Pranav Kotai

2,721 Articles

Pranav Kotai is an editor at EssentiallySports, specializing in basketball coverage with a focus on trade dynamics and front-office decision-making. Having previously worked on the Trade Desk vertical, he brought clarity to how salary cap pressures and roster needs shape NBA transactions. His insightful coverage of the Philadelphia 76ers’ decision to hold firm on Joel Embiid amid trade speculation highlights how market context and team strategy influence major roster moves. Before joining EssentiallySports, Pranav holds experience of skills in professional writing, editorial work, and digital content creation. He holds a postgraduate diploma in digital media from a reputed institute, where he mastered the tools to create engaging and credible content across various platforms. Known for his attention to detail, proficiency in storytelling, and editorial expertise, Pranav combines deep basketball knowledge with sharp analytical abilities to deliver clear, insightful perspectives on the complexities of NBA trades and team management.

Know more

ADVERTISEMENT