The Minnesota Timberwolves are not your typical six-seed, and they’re definitely letting you know it! You’d think they had the higher seed after their 116-113 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4.
There are three common reactions to fierce competition. The first two are pretty simple:
1. The sore loser. Let’s be real: Nobody likes it, not even the loser themselves, but it’s an uncontrollable reaction sometimes.
2. The humble winner. Oh, come on! That’s just classy!
The last phase gets complicated; it’s the actual in-game moments.
3. The kicking your grandma’s walker out from under her during a Thanksgiving family football game to get an edge to win with no regrets kind of competitor.
That third phase of competition was very much highlighted in Game 4. Anthony Edwards and LeBron James adore each other. The Olympic teammates are very fond of one another. It wouldn’t be surprising if James invited Edwards to his coveted “Taco Tuesday,” even though Austin Reaves hasn’t even been invited yet.
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Still, they looked like complete strangers with unexplainable disdain during a shoving match that woke Ant up. He had nine points beforehand and sizzled the rest of the game with 43 points, and once again had assists. Timely assists.
“You’re just not going to push us around all night,” Edwards said, donning another Atlanta Braves hat. “I’m not going to lie, he’s strong… he’s a lot stronger than me, but just let him know I’m going to be here all night. I’m going to be a pest.”
“You know he’s a difficult player,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick. “I think there are certain lineups you can look at that they play, that we could have mixed in some different things.”
Edwards was constantly pressured, and he either made elite shots or passed it to a cutter! He’s almost unstoppable when he plays so well-rounded.
“When they had their shooters out there, it’s tough to kind of mix in fires,” said Redick. “We tried to fire multiple times; it wasn’t communicated well. We did end up trying to blitz him. He raced it both times, and they scored. He’s a very dynamic offensive player.”
The Timberwolves let Luka Doncic get his points, and James, Rui Hachimura, and Reaves also chipped in. But that’s okay. If they’re the only Lakers showing up, it’s almost an automatic win.
Dorian Finney-Smith played 41 minutes and scored six points? And no substitutions in the second half? What is this? Prime John Stockton Utah Jazz?
However, the Wolves aren’t out of the woods quite yet. The Lakers are headed home, and role players always play better at home. Plus, James is no stranger to being down 3-1. He relishes in it. But if he keeps shoving Anta Claus, Minnesota will be okay.
“[Edwards] was super aggressive,” Chris Finch said after the win, “and I think there was only really one bad shot that he took in the last few minutes.
“But other than that, I thought he did a great job, everyone else executed defensively, and we got some second chances down there. Great effort by everybody, but you know Ant’s a special player, and they had a special night.”
The Julius Randle trade had everyone nervous until March. He averaged 18.9 points and 4.5 assists before his groin injury and seemed almost lost. The former Sixth Man of the Year has definitely figured it out now! He’s playing remarkably and efficiently. He complements Edwards’ game like they’ve been playing together for years.
”Yeah, absolutely, [Edwards] and Julius had it going all night long. They were really good, trying to get a third, fourth guy into the game, and Naz shows up in the fourth quarter again,” Finch added.
“I just told him to feel free to show up for the first three anytime you like the last two games. But, you know, he was there when we needed him offensively and defensively, timely baskets for sure.”
The box score won’t exactly show it, but the impact of bench players was key down the stretch. Donte DiVincenzo’s eight points and Naz Reid’s 12 points were very pivotal in the fourth quarter. They scored when 700 Lakers swarmed Ant.
“They’re basically putting three people on me,” added Edwards. “Once I drive, they try to trap me. If I get around the trap, it’s the third guy coming up as the low-man.”
Don’t sleep on Jaden McDaniels, either. He is arguably the best two-way player in the NBA. He quietly notched a 19-point, 11-rebound game. In two consecutive games, James has mentioned him as a factor.
McDaniels isn’t just the key to this series; he is the key to winning a championship. Ant’s 43 points help, too.
