May 20, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) controls the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) in the fourth quarter during game one of the western conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Ex-NBA Champion Reveals Major Anthony Edwards Weakness After Game 1

Originally posted on New Orleans Pelicans on SI
By Grant Mona | Last updated May 21, 2025 1:45 PM ET

The Minnesota Timberwolves were only down four points at halftime of Tuesday's Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder dominated in the second half, outscoring Minnesota 70-40 over the last two quarters of the game.

Anthony Edwards, averaging 26.5 points per game in the playoffs, scored just 18 points on 5-for-13 shooting and was not nearly as aggressive as he needed to be to overcome the Thunder defense. Edwards had more turnovers (4) than assists (3) as Oklahoma City threw multiple defenders at him, limiting his ability to create offense.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drove 28 times yesterday, per Second Spectrum.

The ENTIRE Wolves starting 5 drove only 27 times combined
— TF (@ThunderFocus) May 21, 2025

While the Thunder's defense did shine and consistently disrupted Minnesota's offensive flow, the Timberwolves just flat-out missed shots. Over 60% of Minnesota's shots were from beyond the arc, and they shot 8-for-30 on wide-open threes.

Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Former Pelican and current NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins went on ESPN's First Take to discuss why Anthony Edwards needs to step up.

"I'm looking at Anthony Edwards in this series. He has to be special. Like the 27 points he's been averaging, that's not going to cut the mustard," Perkins said of Edwards.

"He got to average 35 to 40 for them to even stand a chance against the Oklahoma City Thunder," he continued to say.

Perkins also added that Edwards isn't driving to the rim enough and drawing enough fouls, because he's settling for so many three-point shots.

Perkins also said that "this [series] is not going to go past six games" when discussing the Timberwolves' chances in the series. Now down 0-1 to the top-seeded Thunder, Game 2 is essentially a must-win for a Wolves team that won the first two series of their run in five games each.

This article first appeared on New Orleans Pelicans on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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