Author of 40 points in Game 4 against the Suns, Anthony Edwards did it again in Game 1 of the series against the Nuggets! The All-Star guard plants 43 points in the Wolves' victory in Denver (106-99). This is a new personal record, but also a franchise record! Edwards becomes the second player, aged 22 and under, to string together two games of 40 points or more in the playoffs. The first player to achieve such a feat was none other than… Kobe Bryant.
“There is no weakness in his game, and it’s going to be a hell of a challenge to stop him” warns Mike Malone, while Naz Reid sums up the situation perfectly: “Ant' is a superstar in the making, if he isn't already.”
He runs the house for half time
It's clear that Edwards has joined the inner circle of NBA superstars, and his performance last night is just one more element to prove it. In the first half, it was he who held the house by scoring 25 of his team's 40 points. In the final minutes, it was also he who put together important shots to snatch this victory, which gave the Wolves home advantage.
“Ant took all the shots in the first half, so it was difficult to find any rhythm” quips Mike Conleyauthor of 11 points in the 3rd quarter. “I'm fine with waiting until the second half…I've done that a lot in my career, and I've done it a lot this season. I know the guys trust me and my aggression. »
Nikola Jokic's tribute
Author of a very clean 17 out of 29 shots to go with his 7 rebounds and 3 assists, Edwards has the luxury of being the best player on the field, while Nikola Jokic was not unworthy with 32 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists. “I have immense respect for him” Jokic blurted. “He can do everything on the pitch. You have to know how to appreciate and respect your opponent when he is good and has talent. »
Edwards returns the compliment. “It’s always a pleasure to face the best player in the world and the best team in the world,” Edwards reacted. “They're not going to beat themselves, and our staff did a great job on our game plan over the three or four days they had, and our guys responded. It's difficult to beat this team. We know it will be a war. And we stay within our game plan. They make series, and we have to make ours. We’re fighting, and it’s going to be a fight.” »
| Anthony Edwards | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 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 |
| 2023-24 | MIN | 79 | 35 | 46.1 | 35.7 | 83.6 | 0.7 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 25.9 |
| Total | 302 | 34 | 44.6 | 35.3 | 79.3 | 0.7 | 4.5 | 5.2 | 4.1 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 22.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
