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Dave McMenamin
Minneapolis-Before Anthony Edwards and Minnesota Timberwolves filled out what he called “the biggest game in our career” Thursday, defeating the Golden State Warriors 117-93 to their semi-finals from the West conference to 1-1, the Ankle of Edwards gave Wolves their biggest fear of the season.
Edwards, already playing on the ankle compromised after having injured him in match 4 of the first round against the Los Angeles Lakers, had to leave the match in the middle of the second quarter after reinstating it when the Warriors Big Man Trayce Jackson-Davis walked.
Jackson-Davis blocked Edwards’s shot on the rim with 6:03 remaining in the quarter, sending it to the ground. With Edwards already below him, Jackson-Davis inadvertently landed on Edwards’ left ankle.
While the game continued on the other side of the field, Edwards remained on the ground. The Wolves Center Rudy Gobert stopped the action by enlightening the Guardian of the Warriors Jimmy Butler, and the Minnesota called for dead time with 5:56 to do in the second, leading 37-19.
Jaden McDaniels knocked out Edwards, who was released in the tunnel opposite the Minnesota bench, helped by Wolves medical staff.
“This one, I really worry, in fact,” said Wolves coach Chris Finch after the match. “This one, I really planned not to see him the rest of the game, to be honest with you.”
The Minnesota protected its advance with Edwards, Golden State managed to reduce the difference from 18 points to 17 at halftime while Julius Randle scored nine of its 24 match points in the second quarter.
Meanwhile, Edwards was followed in the changing rooms by the vice-president of medical operations and the performance of Wolves, David Hines. Hines guided Edwards through a series of modalities to test the ankle, on which he had always received treatment from the Lakers series, the sliding after the loss of the Wolves match 1.
“Once we liked the third movement of my ankle, I say to myself:” Okay, it’s starting to feel good. If we package it, I will see what it is “,” said Edwards. “(Hines) does a great job to make sure I am good before I go out, so a big cry to David.”
Edwards, 23, played even better after the injury, marking 13 of his 20 points on a shot of 4 for 6 after half-time and seized five of his nine rebounds. He also collected five assists, three interceptions and a block.
Edwards posted a better plus more-21 team-me in 34 minutes and received universal praise from his teammates for Gutty’s performance.
“My man has an immortal ankle,” said Wolves striker Josh Minott while Edwards started his post-match interview with journalists in the locker room.
“He is one of the most resilient people I know,” Randle in ESPN told. “Nothing holds him back.
Compliments reached the proportions of Paul Bunyan while Edwards added to his growing heritage Thursday, helping the Wolves avoid a 0-2 hole against a more experienced Golden State team.
“He still finds a means,” said Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who scored 20 points on the bench. “One thing about Ant, he’s not going to sit. He must be damn close.”
Addition of McDaniels, which had 16 points on a shot 7 for 10, three blocks and three interceptions: “He must have the leg cut or a few s — (to go out).”
Edwards was more critical of his game, stressing that the Randle alley launched him in the third quarter for one of his 11 assists and saying that he should have soaked it but had to put it because it did not jump high enough.
He also said he had to be better to mark the basket in general, after being 2 for 4 on 3s and 4-9 out of 2 s in match 2.
“They let me arrive at the rim, and I am not finishing, so it’s a bit weird,” said Edwards. “I have to start working again on my finish and stop working on my 3 because they don’t let me shoot 3.”
Edwards promised to be in the alignment of match 3 in San Francisco on Saturday, with a chance to get into the series with the star of the Warriors Stephen Curry put aside indefinitely with a tense left hamstrings.
“He was crazy,” said Edwards about his ankle sprain. “But I’m fine.”
