Anthony Edwards praised for comments following Game 3 loss to Nuggets

After his Timberwolves seized a 2-0 lead against the Nuggets, Anthony Edwards predicted the defending champions would "come out punching" in Game 3. But he also expected him and his teammates to "punch back." Only the first of those two prophecies came true Friday as Denver blew out Minnesota by 27 points.

Edwards took total accountability for the 117-90 loss.

"It's on me," Edwards told reporters after the game. "I'll take the blame for this loss. I came out with no energy at all. I can't afford to do that for my team. I let my team and my coaches down. I'll be ready for Sunday."

The uber-confident Edwards said he was happy to see the Nuggets staying alive in the series as that's exactly what he and his teammates wanted. 

"I like the fact that they punched [Friday] and we didn't punch back," Edwards admitted. "That's the thing about [playoff basketball], that's fun. You go to compete, so this should be very competitive Sunday and we're gonna be here for it."

Edwards' comments earned praise from analysts and fans alike, especially for his willingness to take the blame for Friday's loss. It's the latest example of the 22-year-old showing leadership intangibles at a young age, a trait that has earned him comparisons with Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.