MINNEAPOLIS — With the clock winding down within the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 115-107 Sport 4 loss to the Denver Nuggets — ending a disastrous homestand throughout which the Wolves handed again the two-game Western Convention semifinals lead they’d constructed on the defending champs — Anthony Edwards seemed defiant moderately than defeated.
Because the 22-year-old star crossed instructions with Denver’s Jamal Murray close to the sideline, Edwards clapped his fingers, nodded his head and saved his gaze mounted on the Nuggets level guard whereas he delivered a message.
“I simply advised his ass we love that,” stated Edwards, who scored a game-high 44 factors in Sunday’s outing. “‘Hold speaking [like] that. That is what we like.’ Nicely, I liked it. He did not say nothing again. However I am fairly positive he heard me. They heard me. You reside for that.”
Edwards made loads of noise along with his play earlier than that, topping the 40-point plateau for the second time within the sequence and the third time this postseason as he shot 16-for-25 from the sector (64%), 5-for-8 from 3 (62.5%) and 7-for-8 from the foul line (87.5%) in Sport 4.
The remainder of his crew mixed to shoot 40.4% general, 30% from 3 and 57.9% on free throws.
The Wolves now head again to Denver with the sequence tied 2-2.
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Murray, who scored 13 of his 19 factors from the ultimate two seconds of the primary half via the primary 4½ minutes of the third quarter — together with a buzzer-beating 3 from 55 ft out to finish the second quarter — didn’t touch upon the change with Edwards.
However Murray did converse on the problem of containing the Wolves capturing guard, who’s averaging 33.3 factors on 60.4% capturing via the primary 4 video games of this second-round sequence.
“He is downhill, he is powerful to protect, he is explosive,” Murray stated. “He is at all times in assault mode, you recognize what I am saying? So, I believe we will simply do a greater job of simply giving him some consideration.”
Whereas Edwards confronted Murray, the Wolves guard comforted his teammate Karl-Anthony Cities, who shot simply 1-for-10 within the first half on his approach to a 5 for 18 efficiency. Cities scored simply 13 factors whereas Nuggets massive males Nikola Jokic (35 factors on 15-for-26 from the sector) and Aaron Gordon (27 factors on 11-for-12) had big nights.
“He is a famous person,” Edwards stated of Cities. “He will get paid to place the ball within the rim. I at all times inform him, ‘Do not you ever cease capturing the ball since you missed 5 – 6. I do not give a rattling. To ensure that us to win, we want you to attain.’ I am simply completely happy he was aggressive the whole night time. That is a win for us tonight. Him being aggressive all through after having an off night time, I assume.”
Even with the phrases of encouragement from Edwards and an enchancment within the second half, Cities couldn’t cover his disappointment.
“Issues weren’t falling right now,” Cities stated. “I take accountability for that. I do know I put the work in, so I be ok with the work I put in. It is proven this playoffs, clearly. It is unlucky that on Mom’s Day I’ve a capturing efficiency like that. But it surely’s the way in which the sport goes. It is not a enjoyable recreation typically.”
Cities’ mom, Jackie Cruz-Cities, died of COVID-19 issues in April 2020.
Because the longest-tenured member of the Wolves, drafted by the franchise with the No. 1 choose in 2015, Cities has skilled loads extra on-court disappointment than dropping two video games straight within the playoffs. In three of his first eight seasons within the league, Minnesota gained fewer than 30 video games, earlier than breaking via with 56 wins this season to earn the No. 3 seed within the West.
“We simply acquired to remain linked on this locker room,” Cities stated. “Even via good, dangerous, we at all times are collectively, and we at all times lean into the brotherhood that we’ve constructed right here. … But it surely’s a check now. And we acquired to be prepared to point out the work that we have put into our friendships and {our relationships} on this crew, and that work that we have put in all 12 months will materialize to us both discovering a approach to win this sequence collectively or discovering ourselves on the fallacious aspect of historical past.”
If Edwards’ angle on the finish of Sport 4 was an indicator, there may be no less than one Wolves participant who’s unfazed by Denver knotting issues up.
“I do not suppose they acquired any momentum,” Edwards stated of the Nuggets. “We gained two video games. They gained two video games. At this level, it is whoever wins two [more] video games. I do not understand how folks take a look at it, however I take a look at it like I am completely happy. I am prepared.
“It is competing on the highest degree. I am smiling about it as a result of I am completely happy. I am able to go play. If we performed tomorrow, I might be prepared. It is going to be enjoyable.”
