Game 3 did not go as planned for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who lost their first game of the playoffs in a blowout to the Denver Nuggets at home. It was hardly the showing that the fans expected and many of the players were visibly down as the result became clear. But as the game was nearing its end, Anthony Edwards made sure to remind his teammates that this series is far from over.
"We good fellas, it's a series man," said Edwards. "It's a series, we good. First to four games!"
As lopsided as the score was on Friday, it only counted as one win for the Nuggets, who are still trailing the series at 2-1. Facing a potential 3-0 deficit, the Nuggets had no choice but to play with the utmost urgency tonight and that's exactly what they did with their season on the line.
As a team, the Timberwolves finished with just 90 points, their lowest-scoring game of the playoffs so far, and no player crossed 20 points despite a fully healthy roster.
As for Edwards, he was quick to take the blame after the loss and he took full accountability for letting the opportunity slip and not seizing the moment when he had a chance.
"I'll take the blame for this loss. I came out with no energy. I came out flat and I can't afford to do that," said Edwards. "I let my teammate, my coaches, and the fans down but I'll be ready on Sunday."
Only time will tell if the Timberwolves can keep their composure in the series but a win in Game 4 will be huge in helping them advance to the next round. After hopefully learning from tonight's game, the Timberwolves should be better prepared this weekend to respond to the Nuggets and pull out a win on their home floor.
Anthony Edwards Is Having A Breakout Season
Whether they win or lose this series, the Timberwolves have a bright future with Anthony Edwards at the helm. At just 22 years old, the young guard is drawing comparisons to Michael Jordan with his ferocious competitiveness, killer mentality, and freakish athleticism on the court.
The 2023-24 campaign was arguably the best of his career with averages of 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game on 46% shooting. He's been even better in the playoffs this year with a stat line of 32.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists through the first six games.
With so much still left to prove, it's impossible to say if Edwards is capable of carrying the Timberwolves the distance this season. The path ahead is difficult and they've never been on this stage before.
But with a superstar like Anthony Edwards keeping his guys ready for the moment, the Timberwolves have a chance to make history here and break a cycle of losing that goes back decades. Clearly, Ant is the leader both on and off the court and he's doing whatever he can to ensure victory for his squad in the series at hand.
The Nuggets are proving a difficult challenge for Edwards but he's never been more ready for the moment and the Timberwolves finally have enough talent to make things interesting.
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