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Watch: T-wolves' Anthony Edwards stops epic Mavericks comeback
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) looks to pass the ball past Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) during the first quarter at the American Airlines Center. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Watch: Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards stops epic Mavericks comeback

Without their All-Star guard, the Dallas Mavericks nearly erased a 28-point lead on Christmas Day. Anthony Edwards wasn't going to let that happen.

Behind Kyrie Irving's 15 fourth-quarter points, the Mavericks cut the Minnesota Timberwolves' lead down to two points, before Edwards drove to the hoop to give them a two-possession lead with 18 seconds to go. 

Klay Thompson, who had hit his fourth three-pointer seconds earlier, couldn't hit again and the Wolves escaped with a 105-99 win.

It was a furious comeback that the Mavericks pulled off without Luka Doncic, who left before halftime with a calf strain. That meant they ran their offense through Irving, who responded with a 39-point performance.

Edwards (26 points) staved off the comeback with two big shots in the final 1:17. After the game, he was effusive in his praise for Irving, who he called his "favorite point guard of all time."

Edwards might love Irving, but he loves winning on Christmas Day more. In a rematch of the Western Conference Finals, Edwards walked away with some holiday revenge.

Sean Keane

Sean Keane is a sportswriter and a comedian based in Oakland, California, with experience covering the NBA, MLB, NFL and Ice Cube’s three-on-three basketball league, The Big 3. He’s written for Comedy Central’s “Another Period,” ESPN the Magazine, and Audible. com

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