Anthony Edwards Needs Some Teammates

Needing to make sure that a team he has carried for years comes out on top for a mother’s day matchup, Towns wilted. He started on a long 0-fer-7 stretch and finished going 5-of-18 on the night and just 1-of-4 from deep. His 13 points were all volume shooting, and with early fouls, he was off the floor leaving Edwards to do everything himself.

NAW and Jaden Do Nothing for Edwards

Minnesota established an identity by being the best defensive team in the NBA. That was largely reflective of the abilities shown from both Jaden McDaniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The latter was tagged with an unfortunate technical foul during Game 3, and neither of them provided any value during Game 4.

The pair combined to go 5-for-18 from the field, and it was only some late field goals by McDaniels that had either itching double figures. For the vast majority of the game Denver was shooting 60% from the field, and 50% from deep. The offensive prowess of both players was non-existent, and a defense that shouldn’t slump was nowhere to be found.

Anthony Edwards had to do it all

As has been the case most of the season, Edwards remains the straw that stirs the Timberwolves’ drink. Once again the 22-year-old was tasked with being more mature than his age, but his 44 points wasn’t enough for his teammates, who just didn’t show up tonight.

Expect him to reinvigorate the group as they go back to Denver, and hopefully Scott Foster remains far away from impacting this outcome any more than he has. Edwards is definitely an x-factor, and while he’ll need much more help than his teammates gave him tonight, there’s no reason to count Minnesota out as long as he’s on the floor.