Anthony Edwards Vows to Improve After Timberwolves’ Elimination
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ season came to an end, falling just short of their first NBA Finals for the second consecutive year. After the loss in the fifth game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Anthony Edwards, the team’s rising star, made a firm promise of improvement.
Edwards, who averaged 27.6 points per game during the regular season, was limited to under 20 points in three of the five games against Oklahoma City. In the decisive game, he scored 19 points on 7-of-18 shooting from the field and 1-of-7 from three-point range, in addition to three turnovers. The Minnesota team was outscored by 29 points in the 39 minutes that Edwards was on the court.“I’m going to work like crazy this summer. Nobody is going to work harder than me this summer. I assure you that,” Edwards stated after the defeat.
Anthony Edwards
The Timberwolves coach, Chris Finch, acknowledged the Thunder’s superiority and his team’s lack of connection. Minnesota committed 21 turnovers, leading to 18 points for the Thunder, who secured their place in the NBA Finals.“They were the better team. They came out and beat us, they punched us in the mouth,” Edwards commented. “We lost the game and we lost the series.”
Anthony Edwards
Key players like Naz Reid and Julius Randle also struggled, contributing turnovers that affected the team’s performance. Randle, for his part, expressed his motivation to improve in the offseason.
Other key players like Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jaden McDaniels, and Donte DiVincenzo failed to replicate their performance from the fourth game. Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley also failed to impact the game against a Thunder team that had five players in double figures, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Despite the disappointment, Edwards, with only five seasons in the league, views the future with optimism. “I’m 23 years old. I can do this many times,” he stated, highlighting his motivation to keep improving and compete in the future.
Before the conference finals, the Timberwolves had a positive streak, with a record of 25-6 and victories against the Lakers and the Warriors in the playoffs. Coach Finch recalled a conversation with Edwards about the season’s expectations, where they agreed to focus on reaching the playoffs and advancing rounds.
Edwards reflected on the season, acknowledging the team’s challenges and progress. “We did a good job this year, but we fell short again. We will try again next year,” he concluded.
