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Anthony Edwards offers bold statement ahead of playoff showdown vs. Lakers
It came down to the wire, but Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves managed to avoid the play-in tournament and secure a spot in the West playoffs. Always oozing confidence, the All-Star guard isn't fazed by being overlooked in Round 1.
Finishing as the No. 6 seed, the Timberwolves find themselves with a tall task to open the postseason. They're slated to square off against the L.A. Lakers and their superstar duo of LeBron James and Luka Doncic. As the lower seed, many are siding with the Lakers to be the team to advance to the Western Conference semifinals.
When asked his thoughts on being the underdogs in the series, Edwards isn't bothered. It seems to be added motivation for the superstar guard as they prepare to try and pull off an upset.
"I just love it. It’s dope," Edwards said. "I love the fact that everybody wants the Lakers to win. That’s how it’s supposed to be. They don’t want the Timberwolves to win. I get it."
Anthony Edwards on everyone picking the Lakers to win:
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) April 16, 2025
"I just love it. It’s dope. I love the fact that everybody wants the Lakers to win. That’s how it’s supposed to be. They don’t want the Timberwolves to win. I get it."
After reaching the Western Conference Finals last year, the Timberwolves made a major change by trading Karl-Anthony Towns. At the start of the year, the growing pains were clear.
However, the new-look roster managed to find its stride at the end of the year. Minnesota went 18-8 following the All-Star break, building the positive momentum it needed heading into the playoffs. It'll look to carry this into the showdown with the Lakers as it attempts to pull off an upset.
If the Timberwolves want any chance at advancing, they're going to need a stellar stretch of performances from Edwards. The former No. 1 pick will look to make a statement on Saturday night in Game 1 on the road.
More must-reads:
- Austin Reaves' emergence puts him in line for a big payday
- 2 Lakers players get left off playoff roster
- The 'Leading scorers from the 2003-04 NBA season' quiz
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Utah Jazz Icon John Stockton Names Surprising Favorite Place to Play
Throughout his over 1,500 career games played with the Utah Jazz, Hall of Fame point guard John Stockton played in a fair share of arenas against the top talents in the world in his era, and made sure to make his mark as one of the best guards to ever play the sport. But, when the question comes to Stockton's favorite place to take the floor on the road throughout his time in the league, what would the choice be? If not in Salt Lake City in the Delta Center, Stockton had an interesting choice when asked for his thoughts on the question, labeling Portland as his favorite destination to play in his 19 years in the NBA. "I actually enjoyed going to Portland," Stockton said during an interview on The Ultimate Assist. "I have friends there, we played there in college at the same building. It seemed like the fans there appreciated (good basketball). It wasn't just, 'Hey, we hate you because you're the other team.' There was an appreciation for good play, whether it was their team or your team. I guess there was something about it and was closer to home, too." Instead of some of the bigger, nightlife-heavy cities around the league like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, or Miami, Stockton preferred the lowkey lifestyle of Portland– a close-to-home, smaller-scale spot that has some different qualities to offer. It wasn't just a familiar place for the Washington state native, considering Oregon is right down the road from his hometown in Spokane. But, also, when it comes to the energy in the building when playing in front of Portland Trail Blazers fans, they were seemingly unmatched in Stockton's eyes. Portland's long been a home to a franchise in the Blazers that has had a strong history, whether it centers upon their Clyde Drexler era in the 1980s and 90s, when facing Stockton and Karl Malone, their modern bright spots within the Damian Lillard timeframe, or their 1977 NBA Finals win led by the great Bill Walton, it's easy to see how this is a fanbase that appreciates a bit of good basketball. During Stockton's time facing Portland, he had 78 games played to average 13.3 points, 10.4 assists, and 2.9 rebounds. His best game ever might've just come during the 1988 season, when the Jazz guard led the way with 25 points, a staggering 18 assists, and four steals in what was a 129-122 win for Utah. Salt Lake City was (and still is) home to one of the best places to play in the entire league in front of a raging Jazz crowd, but Stockton sees Portland with the qualities of perhaps the second-best destination to take the floor in the NBA. More Utah Jazz Content Utah Jazz's Will Hardy Lays Out Ace Bailey Rookie Blueprint Utah Jazz Legend John Stockton Rips Load Management, Modern NBA Celtics Almost Signed Guard Before Jazz Trade Utah Jazz Land New Win-Loss Projection After NBA Schedule Release Utah Jazz Among NBA's Lowest in National TV Games This Season
Shane Steichen dropped a big hint about the Colts’ QB battle
The Indianapolis Colts have yet to name their starting quarterback for the 2025 season, but coach Shane Steichen may have dropped a big hint about who the choice may be. Steichen said Saturday that he was close to making a decision between Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson in the ongoing camp battle. He may have tipped his hand, however, when answering a question about what traits he was looking for in his starter. “I think it’s the most consistent guy,” Steichen said, via Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star. “I really do, because at the end of the day, you’ve got to be able to move the football consistently up and down the field, and making good decisions. You know what I mean? I mean, at the end of the day, you can have splash plays, but if you’re doing that sparingly and up and down. … I think it’s got to be on a consistent basis, to get to where we want to go.” The knock on Richardson all along has been his inconsistency, and it is a bad sign for his prospects that Steichen put such an emphasis on that as part of his answer. Richardson’s physical talents are undeniable, but his decision-making has left something to be desired, and the offense has at times stalled out with him at the helm of it. Jones does not bring Richardson’s big-play potential, but would likely leave the Colts with a better idea of what they will get every Sunday. Richardson has put in extra work to try to win the job, but has been sidelined for a large part of the offseason with a shoulder injury, coupled with a dislocated pinky suffered during the preseason opener. It has also been suggested that Jones entered camp as the favorite, so Richardson had to play well enough to supplant him. Jones started Saturday’s preseason game and went 7-of-11 for 101 yards. Richardson went 6-of-11 for 73 yards, but he had one big play negated due to a penalty. The Colts ultimately lost 23-19 to the Green Bay Packers.
Saints' QB picture remains unclear with end of preseason nearing
New Orleans Saints rookie head coach Kellen Moore still doesn't seem to love his quarterback options heading into the season. After a 17-17 home tie against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Moore refused to name a starting QB in his postgame news conference. "We'll see," the coach said when asked if he would announce a starter this week. Perhaps Moore wants to use the preseason finale against the Denver Broncos on Aug. 23 to make the best decision for the team, or he still has doubts about both of his QBs. Saints rookie QB Tyler Shough started Sunday, while Spencer Rattler was the backup. The 2025 second-round pick out of Louisville wasn't awful, but he wasn't outstanding. He completed 9-of-12 passes for 66 yards and was sacked twice. When Shough exited after the second quarter, the Saints trailed 17-3 and had punted three times. New Orleans could've been losing by more if Jaguars starting QB Trevor Lawrence hadn't fumbled a handoff in the red zone on the game's opening drive. Rattler entered the game in the third quarter and played better. The South Carolina product spurred a 14-point comeback and led a nine-play, 82-yard drive late in the fourth quarter. At the end of the drive, Rattler tossed a 20-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dante Pettis. The QB then scrambled for a two-point conversion, tying the game at 17-17. Rattler finished 18-of-24 passing for 199 yards, one TD and one interception. While the comeback was impressive, he probably can't pull off the same magic against a first-team defense in the regular season. Plus, the Saints had struggled to score in the red zone until the final drive—two of Rattler's five drives ended in field goals. The offense looks slightly better with Rattler, which could give him an edge in the competition. However, he has yet to prove he's a viable starter. The 2024 fifth-rounder had a 0-6 starting record during his rookie season. It's easy to see why Moore is delaying his decision. His options don't seem to give him a chance for immediate success in New Orleans.
Proposed Arena Deal Puts Brady Tkachuk in Different Jersey
The Ottawa Senators’ long-awaited push to move downtown has revived more than just arena talk—it has also sparked speculation about the future of captain Brady Tkachuk. On episode 400 of the DFO Rundown podcast, NHL analyst Jason Gregor suggested that the timeline for the Senators’ new home at LeBreton Flats may not line up with Tkachuk’s contract, potentially influencing whether he stays in Ottawa. Tkachuk’s deal, an eight-year, $57.56 million pact signed in 2021, runs through 2028. By then, the Senators’ proposed arena—still facing construction and approval hurdles—might only just be opening. According to reports from the Ottawa Citizen, the building is expected to take at least two years to complete once the land is ready. That mismatch in timing could prove crucial. “Is that building done in three years? Probably not,” Gregor said. “So I’m going to actually sell [on him staying]. By the time that building is done, he’ll have moved on. I get a sense that he might be going to the USA.” Which Team Would Brady Tkachuk Join? It’s key to point out that Brady has never said he has intentions on leaving Ottawa. He’s excited about the upcoming season and working with the team to get better and become a legitimate playoff contender. His contract also includes a full no-move clause. It’s the control over any trade scenario he has that makes this interesting. In the past, he’s been loosely linked to the New York Rangers. In December, “The Post’s Larry Brooks reports the Blueshirts have been in trade talks with multiple teams — with Senators forward Brady Tkachuk their primary target.” The article added, “The 25-year-old Ottawa captain would bring a jolt to the lifeless Rangers lineup and in multiple ways.” Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen later ruled out there being any truth to the speculation. Of course, there is also the Florida Panthers, where Brady’s brother Matthew plays. Matthew loves Florida and is signed until 2030. Could bringing in the younger brother be one of the things that gets both players to sign team-friendly deals and extensions? The Senators have made it clear that Tkachuk remains central to their long-term plans, but without a finished arena to market as a franchise reset, Gregor wonders if Ottawa could face a challenge convincing its captain to stick around for the next chapter.
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