After his surprisingly discreet Game 1, with only 18 points and 5 assists, Anthony Edwards promised he was going to be a lot more aggressive for the second trick tonight. His coach had even asked him to play 1-on-2, or even 1-on-3, to destabilize the Nuggets defense.
With an offensive explosion of 41 points, 14/23 on shots including 6/10 from 3-pointers, the young Wolves rear / winger listened to his coach and he kept his word!
“I started Game 1 with a bit of aggression, but then I took too much of a step back”explained Anthony Edwards in the Star Tribune. “I told them on Tuesday night that I was going to be ultra-aggressive [pour le Game 2], whether it’s finding my shots or finding my teammates. »
In the ropes at halftime (at -15 at 64-49), when we saw them take a second spanking in a row in the Rockies, the Wolves reacted with a scathing 20-6 after returning from the locker room. A furious return launched by Anthony Edwards, author of 13 of his 41 points in the period, largely won by the visitors (40-23). It is also he who goes to cover Nikola Jokic from behind, or who finds his teammates on the baseline. A complete match, without really forcing his shots.
“We knew we were going to see aggressive and attacking Timberwolves at some point,” adds Mike Malone. “In this third quarter, we saw it. They played very well and on our side, we didn’t defend well. »
“We must leave with the same mentality that we had in the second half”
After three difficult matches individually, Anthony Edwards has found some teeth. He found the energy to revive his people with a huge second half at 27 points, with an excellent 10/15 on shots. Unfortunately, all his efforts did not allow Minny to leave with success in the suitcases.
“We made mistakes in the game plan. A few things. Even me. We just need to be more focused on the game plan. We have to drive the point home. We all really have to be fully collectively on our strategy. »
Still guilty of a false start in the first quarter (31-22), Wolves took too long to react. They certainly did better in points on counterattack, with 16 points against only 3 in Game 1, but Minnesota still seems to be one, if not two, tones below their opponent, seeded No. 1 in the West. .
“We have to be able to keep up the pace,” concludes Anthony Edwards. “We can’t wait to be -20 or -15 in the first half to wake up and try to find a way to come back to the score. If we found something that works [en deuxième mi-temps]we must stick to it from the first quarter [du Game 3]. We must leave with the same mentality that we had in the second half. »
| Anthony Edwards | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2020-21 | MIN | 72 | 32 | 41.7 | 32.9 | 77.6 | 0.8 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 19.3 |
| 2021-22 | MIN | 72 | 34 | 44.1 | 35.7 | 78.6 | 0.9 | 3.9 | 4.8 | 3.8 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 21.3 |
| 2022-23 | MIN | 79 | 36 | 45.9 | 36.9 | 75.6 | 0.6 | 5.2 | 5.8 | 4.4 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 24.6 |
| Total | 223 | 34 | 44.1 | 35.2 | 77.0 | 0.8 | 4.4 | 5.1 | 3.8 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 21.8 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
