Anthony Edwards' three-point barrage is super-charging Timberwolves offense

Edwards scored 33 points and went 5-for-9 from three-point range as the Timberwolves scored 45 fourth-quarter points on their way to a 135-119 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday. He's now made 41 three-pointers in eight games, tops in the NBA, making them at a rate of 46.1%.

This season shows a clear change in approach for Edwards, who went from taking 6.7 threes per game last year to averaging over 11. Not only is his volume way up, but so is his accuracy — he was a 35.7% shooter from deep in his first four seasons.

As a result, while Minnesota's defense has declined this year, it's now sixth in the NBA in offensive efficiency. The Timberwolves are taking over 40 three-pointers per game, way up from last season's 32.7 per game.

Edwards' effective field goal percentage is a gaudy 60.7 after Thursday's win. He's made more threes than two-pointers this season after making nearly three times as many twos in 2023-24. But the change might not be about efficiency as much as it is his new teammate.

Julius Randle, acquired in the Towns trade, likes to operate near the basket. For his career, he takes 56% of his shots within 10 feet of the hoop. Not only does Edwards' newfound three-point stroke help rack up points, it also creates space for Randle to work in the paint with the threat of Edwards discouraging double teams.

On Thursday, the Timberwolves took control of the game with a 12-0 run punctuated by a pair of Edwards threes.

There's a reason Edwards had a succinct, profane response last week to people who thought he took too many threes. He's reconfigured his game, and that's reconfigured Minnesota's entire offense. If its defense rebounds to near last year's elite level, that would spell bad news for the rest of the West.