Anthony Edwards was left in shock after witnessing Nikola Jokic’s excellent game against them. He admitted to the Joker possibly being the best player he’s seen in person. But the Nuggets cornerstone doing something absolutely ridiculous can somewhat be expected. However, Edwards had a different riddle to solve tonight. And for it he needed to simulate how he would play the Lakers.
The Nuggets don’t have a highly rated defense, but through the first three quarters, they held Ant-Man to just 10 points. However, the other Timberwolves were able to find success. So he chose to “trust” his teammates. In doing so, he began to find gaps in the defensive scheme that the Nuggets were running. And Edwards also picked up on a similarity.
“They was doing a lot of things that like the Lakers do. Tip the floor, just stay high on the ball screen with Jokic. They was doing a lot. They adjusted, they played me differently than they usually play me and I told them that going into the fourth,” Anthony Edwards admitted after the double OT thriller.
Nov 7, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) reacts after scoring against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Once Edwards figured out their schemes, he found a way to capitalize. “I would put Nickeil in my strong corner and they can’t help and now I’m just having fun and playing one-on-one,” said Ant-Man. So from the fourth quarter to the end of the game, Edwards assumed his position as the Timberwolves’ ruthless ace.
He scored 24 points in that time, making some big plays to keep the Nuggets at bay. Still, the job was far from easy. Edwards didn’t come to match Jokic’s monstrous triple-double. However, he did just enough and at the right time to successfully douse the Nuggets for a sixth consecutive time.
Julius Randle has nothing left in his tank
However, hard the chess match was between the Nuggets and the Timberwolves, one thing was common. The players from both sides were left battered by the end of the night. Both Jokic and Edwards played close to every minute of the game. And right behind them was Julius Randle.
“I feel terrible. Absolutely awful. My body is in shock but you know that’s why you train, that’s why you lift, that’s why you put the extra hours in to be able to you know play through games like this you know what I mean,” the former Knicks forward said about the game.
Randle could smile after a night like such. The Timberwolves went to war without Donte DiVincenzo and Naz Reid, two key contributors serving suspensions for the brawl against the Pistons. Yet, they managed to go past an all-time Nikola Jokic performance albeit the Nuggets also lacked a few vital pawns.
It all worked out for the Timberwolves in the end. But had it not, Julius Randle admits the pain and agony his body is suffering wouldn’t be the same. “I’m happy we came out with the win. You know if we came out 50 minutes in a loss I’ll probably feel a little bit worse,” the 30-year-old said about their victory.
Randle contributed 26 points and 7 assists in what was an integral win for the Wolves. They now sit at 44 wins, tied with the Warriors and Grizzlies in the West. And although the final seeding depends on their results, if Minnesota finishes the regular season by keeping their win streak alive there’s a good chance they crack the top 6.
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