Watch: Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards scores early in Game 2

Edwards had 10 points in the first quarter of the Timberwolves' Game 2 tilt with the Dallas Mavericks, doing most of his damage from the free throw line. He shot 2-of-7 from the field but made five of his six free throws to help Minnesota to a 32-26 lead after 12 minutes.

Free throws were the main difference early, with Minnesota going 9-of-11 from the line and Dallas shooting just 1-of-3. It wasn't a disparity in officiating as much as it was Edwards forcing the issue, heading to the rim more often than he had in the Game 1 loss.

Edwards also jump-started the Timberwolves offense with his defense, blocking a Derrick Jones Jr. shot and turning it into a Rudy Gobert dunk on the other end.

But the biggest difference from Game 1 is that Edwards backed up his bravado about guarding Kyrie Irving. After Irving went for 24 points in the first half of the previous game, he had only four points in the first quarter.