Memphis, tenn. – Throughout a season filled with shocks and confusion and enough ups and stockings to make a new Russian mountain at the Mall of America, there has always been a reason to believe in the Minnesota Timberwolves.
He carries the n ° 5 on his chest, and even if he can make questionable decisions on the selection of shots at the end of games, the hope that the courses in the veins of Timberwolves and their long -term fans come from the idea that Anthony Edwards plays his best when the scene on which he stands is large enough for the whole world to see him.
It is still so young, which means that it is subject to inattention and immaturity that can come with 23 years. But with young people, he also comes from ambition, and he crackled in the Timberwolves locker room on Thursday evening before overthrowing their most important match of the season. In a short time in this league, Edwards has already established himself as a big game player, the kind of person who rises to meet the moment when the moment requires.
This is why the veteran Mike Conley was so categorical that Thursday’s match against Memphis’ grizzly greeks was a must. After the most disappointing loss of the season, when the Minnesota spit a 24 -point lead with 10 minutes to play Milwaukee, Conley immediately went to work in the locker room, stressing the importance of the Wolves game against the Grizzlies for their chances of eliminating series. He wanted Edwards to hear it, to understand that there was no time to waste. Because when a message like this goes to Edwards, there are few players in the league that can reach greater heights.
“Each match we play, 82 games, is a big game. But tonight was a must, about it,” said Edwards. “I just had this meaning, guy, and when I have this sense, it’s ugly for anyone.”
This includes grizzleas. Edwards scored 44 points, reached seven points at 3 points and arrived at the Launche francs line for 13 attempts during the Minnesota 141-125 victory against Memphis, a match that the Wolves needed to get so that they could control their own fate for the last two home games. He scored 13 points in the first quarter to set a tone, added 13 in the second, then led the Wolves’ 52 points in the third quarter with 18 points out of 5 shootouts, three of which are.
It was pure domination, people like Wolves who rarely see against Memphis, a team that has had its number for several years.
Heating… 🔥 pic.twitter.com/drtstlzkcr
– Minnesota Timberwolves (@timberwolves) April 11, 2025
“We know what Ant is doing,” said Conley. “We need more, and he knows. It is this time of year. ”
These were qualifying series, making his debut in 2024-25 a few games before the scheduled date, but just in time for the Timberwolves.
The victory placed Minnesota (47-33) in equality, in terms of record, with the grizzly groves (47-33), who play Denver on Friday evening. If the Wolves won the next two games, against Brooklyn on Friday and Utah on Sunday, they will guarantee a seeded among the first six. They could even rise to the fourth that the fourth according to the way in which the other western teams.
If Memphis Bat Denver Friday and the Golden State Warriors beat the Clippers on Sunday, the Wolves will finish the fourth and host 1 host match in their first round eliminatory series. If Denver beats Memphis and the clippers defeating the Warriors, the Wolves would finish sixth. The Minnesota would finish fifth if Memphis beat Denver and the Clippers beat the Warriors or if Denver beats Memphis and the Warriors defeating the Clippers.
If the Wolves lose a tournament at home or both, the game tournament, they come.
Yooooo 🕺 pic.twitter.com/kiye924aa
– Minnesota Timberwolves (@timberwolves) April 11, 2025
While the fans base pulled her collective hair all season during the team’s twists and turns, the only thing that can bring everyone together is the eliminatory ant. He rises in great moments and wolves can rise with him.
During his regular season career, Edwards is on average 23.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and shoots. 446 / .364 / .803. In the playoffs, including last year’s race at the Western Conference final, Edwards represents 27.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and shooting .476 / .391 / .823. Finch began to notice a difference to Edwards when the stakes were more important from the moment he took over in the middle of the EDWARDs’ recruit season in 2020-2021.
“He has had that since he happened here. … He has a sense of the moment and the game,” said Finch. “Sometimes he wants it too bad. But it’s a good thing.”
The ambition can blind him, attract him to take poorly wise heroes or return the ball while trying to weave in traffic. Even on Thursday, he was largely terrible in defense in the first half, which helped the grizzlymen to hang 72 points and to take a five-point lead at halftime.
In the locker room during the break, Finch challenged everyone to fight on defense, including Edwards. Understanding the challenges again and playing on national television, he forced. Desmond Bane went 6 out of 6 of the 3-point fork in the first half. He went 0 out of 4 in the second half, tracked by Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. This defense has fueled one of the best offensive neighborhoods of any team this season.
The wolves made 18 of the 21 shots on the ground, including 7 of 8 3. The only Deep round, by Julius Randle, ended up being one of the highest games of the game, when Ant lilled, scratched the phalanges to the ceiling of the Fedex forum, and threw a dunk of putback.
Hellllooooo 🫣 pic.twitter.com/lxxeblzzxr
– Minnesota Timberwolves (@timberwolves) April 11, 2025
It was a simply dazzling quarter of basketball, Edwards releasing a range of breathtaking photos that made the grizzly grizzlymen helpless. With the defensive magician recruited Jaylen Wells with a broken wrist, Memphis had no one for Edwards. When he struck 3 on a rotation to put Minnesota to 19, he started to become ugly for grizzleas.
My Goodeness. 😭 pic.twitter.com/wa9hcwqpj1
– Minnesota Timberwolves (@timberwolves) April 11, 2025
“He is Anthony Edwards. He is part of one,” said Randle while Edwards was joking after a joke in the locker room. “The things he does there is one.”
It must have been in this way for the Wolves to have a little hope after Tuesday evening’s collapse against Milwaukee. Two nights after their worst district of the season – The Bucks outclased them 40-13 and the Wolves fired. 200 / .167 / 100 during the period – Minnesota delivered the best offensive basketball district all season.
Minnesota won period 52-25 and pulled 85.7% on field goals, 87.5% in 3s and 90% on free throws. This helped the Wolves build a 22-point lead before the fourth quarter, a twisted little joke of the basketball gods after led by 20 in the fourth against Milwaukee.
Grizzlies drew within 10 years at some point, but the Wolves retained them each turn. Edwards became aimless in the fourth, but Randle took over the section. He chased Bane in switches on the block, punishing the little guard by removing it and pulling just above him. Randle collected seven points and six rebounds in the quarter, just enough to prevent the grizzly girls from amazing the Wolves for a second consecutive night.
Oh wow, ju 😳 pic.twitter.com/kwnypd3or7
– Minnesota Timberwolves (@timberwolves) April 11, 2025
“It was necessary,” said Randle. “We were definitively upset and frustrated by the way we fell in our guard in the last fourth quarter. Today, it was important to refocus, go out with good energy and good mentality and simply terminate throughout the match.”
Randle finished with 31 points, 10 rebounds and five assists while fighting Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey in painting. He made 13 of the 22 strokes and 5 of the 10 3, forming a devastating punch with Edwards.
“The more I knew him throughout the season, playing with him and learning his trends, I just try to give him the game,” said Randle about Edwards. “It can come in different ways.”
The development specialist for Wolves players, Chris Hines, has worked closely with Edwards since entering the League. One of their main objectives is to bring Edwards to practice visualization to help him lock in large and small games. Hines will send him videos from Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and other big stars just to make him move forward.
In the locker room before the match, Edwards told Conley that he had spent much of the afternoon watching LeBron James’ old video when he went to eight consecutive finals from the NBA with Miami and Cleveland.
Expecting Randle and Edwards to shoot as they did Thursday evening – Edwards was 13 out of 19 on the ground and 7 out of 11 to 3 points – is stupid. If the Wolves arrive at the playoffs, Randle will have demons to exorcise in this place.
Edwards? This is what he was waiting for the whole season.
(Photo: Justin Ford / Getty Images)
