Anthony Edwards dominated the Clippers and had a savage answer for how he did it
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Now, here’s Prince J. Grimes.
When Karl-Anthony Towns last played on March 4, the Minnesota Timberwolves were in first place in the Western Conference. In three games after it was announced he needed meniscus surgery and would miss the rest of the regular season, Minnesota had gone 1-2 and fell to third place. It obviously didn’t take much to slide in a tight race, but without their second-leading scorer, it was reasonable to think Minnesota was falling out of contention for the top seed.
Then, they played the No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers Tuesday, and Anthony Edwards reminded people the top dog in Minnesota was still playing.
Edwards dropped 37 points to lead the Timberwolves to an 18-point win in a game they trailed by 22. After the game, he explained it was possible thanks to “a bunch of mismatches” once Kawhi Leonard left the game with back spasms. Yes, he actually said that. Mismatches.
READY: What were you seeing out there?
ANT: "Just a bunch of mismatches. They best defender is Kawhi. He went down & they were just putting two on me and trying stuff.”Anthony Edwards scored 37 in the Wolves 22-point comeback win vs the Clippers. pic.twitter.com/WfCZCCOCxs
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) March 13, 2024
“Their best defender is Kawhi. Kawhi went down and they were just putting two on me and trying stuff,” Edwards elaborated. “I hit one shot and I just got going.” In summary, nobody could guard him — the words of an unapologetic savage.
Edwards’ takeover was necessary to keep Minnesota within striking distance of the top seed. The Timberwolves remain just a half-game behind the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder entering Wednesday. They also put a three-game gap between themselves and the Clippers.
If the Timberwolves plan to maintain one lead and close the others, they’ll need more performances like the one Edwards just delivered. Hopefully Tuesday was just a taste of what’s to come. The 22-year-old is the NBA’s 11th-leading scorer at a career-high 26.4 points per game, and his MVP odds are fifth-best at BetMGM, with a chance to improve from a distant 200-1 with the added responsibility on his shoulders.
First, though, he has to keep Minnesota on the right track. I think we’ve seen enough to say he has what it takes.
Kevin Durant saved the Warriors’ dynasty
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
That headline probably sounds preposterous to a lot of you. I know because I remember the discourse around Durant’s 2016 decision to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Golden State Warriors. Many people boiled it down to a player simply leaving one team to play for the 73-9 team that came back from a 3-1 hole to beat them in the playoffs the previous season.
However, while those things are true, it’s always worth remembering that same 73-9 team had just blown its own 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals and wasn’t guaranteed to return as strong the next year … until they convinced Durant to come on board.
It’s possible if Durant never joins the Warriors, they don’t win those next two titles, and NBA history as we know it is completely different. The pairing was mutually beneficial, and Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas reminded fans of that point as a guest on The Draymond Green Show.
"If Durant don't come that summer and you guys are remembered as the 73-9 team, all of your legacies are different"
—@IsiahThomas tells @Money23Green the impact @KDTrey5 had for the Warriors pic.twitter.com/pO8C1TpisU
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) March 12, 2024
“If Durant don’t come that summer and you guys are remembered as the 73-9 team, all of your legacies are different,” Thomas said. And as bold as it was for him to say that directly to Green, the four-time champion didn’t disagree.
It’s just fascinating to hear another perspective on something that’s been debated so much over the years.
One to Watch
(All odds via BetMGM)
AP Photo/Carlos Osorio
Toronto Raptors (+135) at Detroit Pistons (-3.5; -165), 7:10 p.m. ET
Who can resist the opportunity to pick the Pistons to win? Apparently not me, because I’m here to tell you Detroit is taking this one. Not only are the Raptors in the midst of a 1-6 stretch and playing their fourth straight game on the road, they’re also incredibly beat up. Scottie Barnes and R.J. Barrett are among several players out, and Immanuel Quickley and Gary Trent Jr. are questionable.
Shootaround
— A Wilt Chamberlain record is close to being broken by… Daniel Gafford?
That’s it from me y’all. Check back Friday for more Layup Lines.