Anthony Edwards shares what Jaylen Brown said to spark his game-winning display

With Brown putting up 41, Edwards took it upon himself to match up against his fellow All-Star. The Celtics forward was outstanding throughout the night and looked every bit the team’s number one option. However, outside of Neemias Queta and Derrick White, who added a combined 35 points, there was not much support.

Payton Pritchard managed nine points, while Anfernee Simons finished with just five. It left Brown carrying the load, something he handled well until Edwards shifted gears late on.

As Edwards locked in during the fourth quarter, his defensive effort made a real difference. He sealed the game with a three-pointer that put Minnesota ahead for good, capping off a strong night on both ends of the court.

After the game, ‘Ant’ opened on his duel with Brown: “I mean, he had 40, so just trying not to let him get a shot off. I feel like I did a good job on him; he made a tough shot on me one time and kind of told me I was too small. I said that might have been the luckiest shot ever.

“He said, ‘That’s not luck, that’s work.’ Let me find somebody who’s working on shooting a fadeaway from the elbow going off the glass. He was making a bunch of tough shots.

“That’s my boy, I was talking trash to him the whole game, he kind of woke me up after telling me I was too small.”

Edwards keeps shining when matched up against top players

Edwards thrives on head-to-head duels against similarly skilled opponents. On Saturday, his motivation was heightened by facing Brown, pushing him to take over the game.

That kind of motivation is something Minnesota fans know well by now. When there is another star across from him, he rarely stays quiet.

Minnesota have reached two straight Western Conference Finals already and still look like there is more to come. With another level still in reach for Edwards’ game, that gap could close quickly if he finds it down the stretch.