As the regular season reaches its tipping point, the competition in the Western Conference is getting tighter with each game. Taking the league by storm following the Jimmy Butler trade, the Warriors have jumped to the seventh spot by winning seven of their last eight encounters. Their latest victory came tonight against the Magic, thanks to Stephen Curry’s historic 56-point performance. But there was still one major threat stopping them from wholeheartedly celebrating the big win. Anthony Edwards!
Yes, the Timberwolves had a chance to overtake the Bay Area team and push them back in the standings. The only thing they had to do was go to the Crypto.com Arena and beat the Lakers. But instead of achieving that goal, the night turned into a disaster for Ant-Man and Co., inadvertently confirming the Warriors’ future. Well, it was early in the first half that Edwards received a technical foul after getting into a heated shoving match with Jarred Vanderbilt and engaging in a verbal altercation.
Although both stars were separated by their teammates and staff, the damage was done and the officials dished out a double-tech. Unfortunately, the situation got even worse for the Wolves in the third quarter when Edwards and Vando got chippy once again. During a drive to the basket, Ant-Man lost his footing and fell to the floor. Instead of continuing the play or calling a timeout, he grabbed the ball and began complaining to the refs for a foul call. Potentially, some words were said by the young forward.
Anthony Edwards picked up his 16th technical foul of the season vs. the Lakers.
He was ejected from the game and will be suspended for the Wolves’ next game. pic.twitter.com/VNp842z0G2
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 28, 2025
That was enough for the ref to blow the whistle and penalize Edwards with his second technical foul, booting him from the game. In utter disbelief, Ant-Man left the floor, finishing with 18 points and six rebounds. Sure, the Wolves tried their best to stay in the game but it wasn’t enough to beat Luka Doncic and LeBron James. Adding to the Minnesota team’s concerns, this was Edwards’ sixteenth tech of this season, which means he will be suspended for the next game, which is against the Jazz tomorrow. And that’s great news for the Warriors as it gives them a chance to increase the gap and move further in the standings. Now, they might be truly unstoppable with Jimmy Butler solving one major problem.
Steve Kerr reveals how Jimmy Butler’s addition has Solved Key Problem for the Warriors
For the last three years, the Bay Area team has struggled whenever Steph has been out of the lineup resting or because of injury woes. After all, he is the focal point of their offense. With Klay Thompson’s form declining and no other star to carry the load with him, the Warriors frequently looked vulnerable without Steph. But that no longer seems to be the problem thanks to Butler, as Kerr said during tonight’s presser, “I just think, we’re more comfortable when Steph goes to the bench, which is a big deal. Tonight wasn’t our best night in that regard. But I think overall, Jimmy gives us a little confidence that we needed.”
Feb 12, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler (10) and guard Stephen Curry (30) during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Golden State Warriors at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Yes, Butler has emerged as that second superstar the Warriors had been seeking for the past 1095 days. Sure, he is not the best scorer or a dribbling wizard, but Jimmy gets the job done in multiple other ways. Kerr continued, “When he’s with Steph, you see how smart he is, how the ball moves, possessions connect, and same with BP. So, when those guys are out there with Steph, like, you know, BP and Jimmy didn’t shoot it well tonight, but multiple possessions where they’re driving closeouts, swinging the ball, creating an advantage, and then Steph ends up with a shot on the backside.”
Although Jimmy scored only 5 points tonight, he dished out seven assists and made the game easy for Steph. Following the Wolves’ loss, the Warriors will hold onto the seventh seed for tonight. However, the job is far from over. As of now, the sixth to ninth seed are tied with the same number of wins and any team can pull away at the last minute. So, the Warriors need to remain focused and continue their form to solidify their spot in the playoffs. Do you think they can do it?
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