Anthony Edwards says Wolves will be ‘back’ after playoffs end

MINNEAPOLIS – The Dallas Mavericks might have put an abrupt end to the Minnesota Timberwolves’ best postseason run in decades on Thursday, dominating Game 5 to clinch the Western Conference crown and a berth in the finals of the NBA, but that hasn’t stopped Anthony Edwards. ‘perspectives on the future a little.

“We’ll be back next year,” Edwards said after totaling 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting, 9 rebounds and 6 assists in a 124-103 loss.

Edwards, a former No. 1 overall pick, capped his fourth season in the league with an All-NBA Second Team nod and three 40-point playoff games as the Wolves reached the Western Conference Finals for the first time since Kevin Garnett led them. there in 2004.

All at the ripe age of 22.

After sweeping the Phoenix Suns in the first round and coming back from 20 points down in the second half of Game 7 of the conference semifinals to topple the defending champion Denver Nuggets, the Mavs proved too much for Minnesota.

“It’s the first time our guys have been in this situation, especially me. It’s my first time,” Edwards said. “But we’ll be ready, man. We’ll be fine. First time. We took a loss. Congratulations to the Mavericks. But we’ll be back. We’ll be fine.”

The No. 3 seed Wolves had home-court advantage over the No. 5 seed Mavs but fell 3-0 to start the series, including blowing an 18-point lead at Target Center in Game 2 when eventual unanimous series MVP Luka Doncic made the go-ahead 3 in the final seconds.

Minnesota’s vaunted defense, featuring four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, looked vulnerable at times against the two-pronged offense of Doncic and Kyrie Irving. And the Wolves’ offense was even less reliable, with Karl-Anthony Towns struggling in the first three losses before recovering to average 26.5 points on 54.5% shooting and 8.5 rebounds in games. 4 and 5.

Towns did not commit a foul in Game 5 after fouling out in Game 4 — the fourth time during Minnesota’s playoff run he has been whistled for five or more fouls — but the effort was no use. to nothing, since Dallas led by 29 in the match. half and as many as 36 at one point.

For Towns, the Wolves’ No. 1 pick in 2015 and the longest-tenured player on the roster, the team’s playoff performance has only strengthened his resolve to be part of the team that will one day deliver in Minnesota his first NBA championship.

“I’ve been here nine years and I’d like to see that tenure continue,” Towns said.

The 28-year-old big man, who has four years remaining on his contract with Wolves (including a player option for the 2027-28 season), was asked to elaborate on his comments.

“I’m confident I’ll be able to be here with my brothers and continue what I love to do here at home,” Towns said. “So that’s the plan. Nothing’s changed on my end. I love this city. I love this organization. I love this city. It gave me my life and my family.”

Towns was asked if the Wolves, as currently constructed — with key rotation player Kyle Anderson becoming an unrestricted free agent this summer — have shown enough to convince the franchise’s potential new owners to keep the team together. (Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore are currently in a legal battle with Glen Taylor over ownership of the team.)

“It’s not my place to worry,” Towns said. “My job is to go out there every day and do something this summer in the offseason and continue to grow in my game and in my mentality, not only as a player but also as a person.”

Towns added: “I’m excited to see next season when I show up to training camp for our first interviews and stuff, not only to see my growth as a player that I can showcase throughout the season , but also my growth as a player I can’t talk about (new owner).

Wolves coach Chris Finch said his biggest takeaway from how his team fell short in the conference finals was the collective consciousness and commitment it will take to continue to improve as the playoffs progress in the future.

Finch, 54, who coached in the G League and then an NBA assistant for years before becoming head coach of the Wolves midway through Edwards’ rookie season, acknowledged that chances like Minnesota’s this spring can be ephemeral.

Then again, even he must have shared some of Edwards’ unbridled optimism about what lies ahead for his team.

“We’re very disappointed. When I look back on the whole summer, there will be a lot of regrets about the early parts of this series,” Finch said. “But it’s been a great year. I’m very proud of the guys. The way the city has supported the team, it’s special. We’ve always said since we got here that we want to build a team that the people are proud to support and play the right way We feel we do.

“Now we have to continue to refine everything.”