Anthony Edwards scored a playoff career-high 43 factors and the Minnesota Timberwolves dominated defending champion Denver within the last minutes for a 106-99 victory of their NBA playoff sequence opener.
Edwards made 17-of-29 pictures from the ground, 3-of-7 from 3-point vary, and all six free throws for his third profession 40-point playoff sport.
“My teammates belief me in each place in essential moments within the sport. I attempt to come by way of for them,” Edwards mentioned after Minnesota took a 1-0 lead within the best-of-seven Western Convention second spherical sequence, which continues on Tuesday morning AEST in Denver.
“It’s powerful right here.
“The altitude, their staff, the group. I’m happy with my teammates. They got here out and fought super-hard.”
Edwards joins Kobe Bryant because the gamers aged below 23 rating 40 factors in back-to-back playoff video games.
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None delivered extra within the clutch than NBA Sixth Man of the 12 months Naz Reid, who scored the primary 10 Minnesota factors in an 18-7 run to interrupt an 84-84 impasse. Reid scored 14 of his 16 factors within the final quarter.
Anthony and his teammates saved the Nuggets at bay to the end, with “Ant-Man” crediting his time with the 2023 US Basketball World Cup staff with enhancing him this season.
“I put in work this summer season,” Edwards continued.
“Shout out to USA staff. They obtained me prepared for this season. I recognize that.”
Karl-Anthony Cities, whose foul hassle late led to Reid getting into the sport, scored 20 factors whereas Mike Conley added 14 factors, all within the second half, plus 10 assists and Rudy Gobert grabbed 13 rebounds.
The Nuggets, who hadn’t trailed in a playoff sequence in two years, had been led by 32 factors, 9 assists and eight rebounds from two-time NBA Most Priceless Participant Nikola Jokic.
However the Serbian centre was pressured right into a game-high seven turnovers and rushed into pictures by an aggressive T-Wolves defensive effort.
Michael Porter Jr. added 20 factors for Denver whereas Jamal Murray had 17, all within the second half after his first scoreless playoff half in 59 post-season contests.
Edwards scored 25 of Minnesota’s 40 first-half factors on 10-of-17 taking pictures, retaining the T-Wolves inside 44-40 at halftime.
Edwards netted 16 first-quarter factors, 11 of them in a 14-2 Minnesota run to begin the competition.
However the Nuggets answered with a 21-3 spurt that put them forward 25-23 after the primary quarter, through which Jokic and Porter every scored 9 factors.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch, who underwent surgical procedure Wednesday to restore a ruptured patellar tendon in his proper knee, was seated a row behind the gamers with a purpose to information his membership.