Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

Timberwolves' Chris Finch Lays Out Harsh Reality to Anthony Edwards After Game 1 Loss

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Deveney | Last updated May 7, 2025 1:53 AM ET

No other way to say it: It was a brutal night in the playoffs for Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards. He finished up with 23 points on 9-for-22 shooting, to go with 14 rebounds, but he struggled mightily in a first half in which the Wolves let go of the rope and never really got back into their opening game of the Western Conference semifinals against the Warriors.

Edwards was 0-for-5 from the field in the first quarter. He was 0-for-3 in the second quarter. In all, Edwards tallied one point in the first half. The Warriors led by 13 points at halftime on their way to a 99-88 win, even with Stephen Curry out because of a hamstring injury.

It marked the first time since April 5, 2024, that the Timberwolves failed to break the 90-point mark. Minnesota shot just 39.5% from the field, but the difference came at the 3-point arc, where the Wolves were a lowly 5-for-29, a mere 17.2%.

Coach Chris Finch was asked after the game about whether he would talk to Edwards about having better energy to start the game.

"What is there to talk about?" Finch said. "You’re the leader of the team, and you’ve gotta come out and set the tone. And all ways that that happens. If you’re shot’s not going, you still have to carry the energy, you know, so, I don’t think—if I gotta talk to guys about having the right energy coming into an opening second-round game, then we’re not on the same page."

"You're the leader of the team and you've gotta come out and set the tone."

Chris Finch wants Anthony Edwards to carry the energy even when his shot isn't falling pic.twitter.com/KQNyDBem72
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 7, 2025

Finch, Edwards and the rest of the gang will attempt to get on the same page on Thursday, when they play the Warriors in Game 2 again at the Target Center.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: