Ant-Man leads Timberwolves to Game 1 upset of Nuggets

Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards

The Minnesota Timberwolves haven’t been to the second round of the playoffs in two decades. You wouldn’t have guessed based on Game 1 of their semifinal series against the Denver Nuggets.

Anthony Edwards scored 43 points to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 106-99 win over the Nuggets. The 22-year-old All-Star opened the game strong – putting up 13 of Minnesota’s first 16 points – before later closing out Denver with eight points in the final three minutes of regulation.

Edwards snuffed out the Nuggets’ last hope, answering Michael Porter Junior’s three-pointer with an emphatic layup to give the Wolves a two-possession lead with under 30 seconds to go in the fourth quarter.

But while Edwards delivered a massive performance, the first back-to-back 40-point playoff games by a player 22 or younger since Kobe Bryant in 2001, it was a team win by the Timberwolves.

Presumptive Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert guarded the paint all game, but he also delivered some big buckets late.

Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid had two points heading into the fourth quarter – and 14 in the quarter. Karl-Anthony Towns picked up his fourth and fifth fouls early, but instead of slowing down the Wolves offense, Towns’ absence let Reid cook.

In the third, Towns and Mike Conley took turns carrying the offense, with both players putting up 11 points in the quarter. Edwards’ defense enabled two of those Towns points after he stuffed Michael Porter Jr.

Now Edwards and company have stolen home-court advantage from Denver after one game. The Timberwolves’ 22-year-old All-Star proved he can do it all himself and his teammates proved that he doesn’t have to.

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