The Timberwolves have shown they can go toe-to-toe with the best, proving their ceiling is sky-high. They’ve already taken down powerhouse teams like the Nuggets and Thunder, which makes it clear—when they’re locked in, they can beat anyone. But their recent performances have cast a shadow on their aspirations. With the playoffs right around the corner, the Wolves and Anthony Edwards were rolling, stacking up wins and riding an eight-game streak.
Then they lost the Pacers and now to a severely short-handed Pelicans squad. What made it even more painful? New Orleans had been demolished by 46 points just days earlier and was spiraling with seven losses in their last eight games. Dropping this one wasn’t just a setback—it was the kind of loss that stings.
The Wolves’ struggles on the glass and careless mistakes proved costly in a disappointing 121-107 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Minnesota failed to execute the basics—something Edwards made clear after the game.
“The coaches tell us every day to box out. Every day, check to see if your man is crashing and box him out,” Edwards said bluntly. “We just did a poor job of it tonight. … We even have boxout drills sometimes, so I don’t know how we’re not boxing out, myself included. It’s embarrassing.”
Feb 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) reacts after being ejected during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
The 2x All-Star’s frustration was justified. The Timberwolves coughed up 14 turnovers and allowed the Pelicans to grab 11 offensive rebounds—two glaring issues that helped seal their fate. New Orleans capitalized with 15 second-chance points, including a late putback from Zion Williamson that iced the game. Yves Missi and Bruce Brown were relentless on the boards, each securing three offensive rebounds to keep the Pelicans’ possessions alive.
Edwards, who matched a game-high 29 points, didn’t shy away from addressing the team’s recent dip in performance.
“We’ve been playing great for maybe three weeks,” Edwards said postgame. “I don’t know what happened, but something happened with all of us. We’ll figure it out, hopefully sooner than later.”
The Wolves will have to regroup quickly and regain the chemistry that fueled their recent success. Because they just took a brutal hit in their playoff chase, dropping to the seventh seed in the West. Meanwhile, the Warriors keep stacking wins, now sitting a full game ahead of both Minnesota and the Clippers. To make matters worse, Golden State already locked in the tiebreaker by winning the season series. That means if the Wolves want to avoid the play-in, they’ll need to step it up fast—because right now, the road ahead isn’t getting any easier.
But as they fight to stay in the mix, Anthony Edwards is making headlines for more than just his on-court performances.
Magic Johnson has some words for Anthony Edwards
Magic Johnson didn’t hold back when responding to Anthony Edwards’ recent take on past NBA generations. Edwards, always confident, claimed that outside of Michael Jordan, players from back in the day lacked skill. Ahead of the 2024-25 season, Anthony Edwards stirred up some controversy with a bold statement about his hops. The 23-year-old Timberwolves star didn’t hold back, insisting that no player in NBA history could match his jumping ability.
That opinion didn’t sit well with Magic.
“Don’t attack all the old-school guys when you haven’t done your homework,” Johnson said on Byron Scott’s Fast Break. “Look, man, talk to me when you’ve won something.”
Dec 21, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch talks with Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) against the Golden State Warriors in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Johnson’s not wrong—Edwards is an incredible talent, but he hasn’t even made an NBA Finals yet. At 23, he’s already one of the best in the league, but there’s still plenty to prove. Confidence is great, but dismissing an entire era of basketball without understanding it? Probably not the smartest move.
Edwards might want to pull up some old-school highlights before making claims like that. Magic wasn’t just a legend—he helped revolutionize the game. And let’s be real, the league wouldn’t be what it is today without those “unskilled” players Edwards is calling out.
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