Anthony Edwards delivered another remarkable performance for the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a heartbreaking 120-111 loss to Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. Edwards’ heroics may not have saved the game, but they did provide some consolation for the fans.
After scoring 41 points in Game 2, Edwards continued his hot streak with a game-high 36 points in Game 3. This impressive display meant that the Timberwolves star has now matched Kobe Bryant’s record for the most 30-point playoff games before turning 22 years old. What’s even more remarkable is that Edwards has only played in nine playoff games throughout his three-year career, and he’s scored at least 30 points in almost half of those games.
Anthony Edwards has tied Kobe Bryant for the most 30-point playoff games before turning 22 🙌 pic.twitter.com/lIFmfyoaaO
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 22, 2023
However, Edwards is not interested in individual accolades, as his focus is solely on winning. Despite his impressive performance, the Timberwolves are now in an almost insurmountable 0-3 hole, and facing an early postseason exit. The frustration of Edwards was palpable as he watched his team lose their third straight game against the Nuggets, despite his own incredible effort.
The Wolves now face a must-win Game 4 on Sunday. Denver is looking to complete a sweep of Minnesota, and it’s no secret that they will need more help from their teammates, especially from the likes of Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert.
While Towns put up 27 points and seven rebounds in Game 3, Gobert fouled out in 32 minutes, and the Timberwolves bench contributed only 10 points. The absence of Jaden McDaniels, who is out for the rest of the postseason due to a broken right hand, has also been felt by the team, as he could have provided some much-needed defensive presence against Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr.
Despite the challenges, Edwards has proven to be a beacon of hope for the Timberwolves, and the team will look to him to continue his impressive form in Game 4. The young star has already achieved so much in his short career, and he’s sure to keep delivering superhuman performances for his team. However, it remains to be seen if Edwards and the Timberwolves can rally to avoid a sweep and extend their playoff run.
Anthony Edwards’ Explosive Scoring: A Look Back at His Six 40-Point Games in the NBA
The Minnesota Timberwolves have high hopes for their No. 1 draft pick, Anthony Edwards, and he has not disappointed them. In his young NBA career, Edwards has already scored at least 40 points in a game six times, showing that he is a force to be reckoned with on offense.
His first 40-point game came in March 2021 against the Phoenix Suns, and he followed it up with another 42-point game in May against the Memphis Grizzlies. He set a new career-high of 48 points against the Golden State Warriors in November 2021 and continued his scoring spree with a 40-point game against the Portland Trail Blazers in January 2022.
In March 2022, Edwards recorded his highest-scoring game yet, putting up 49 points against the San Antonio Spurs. He also earned his first All-Star nod in 2023 and scored 44 points in January against the Houston Rockets, marking his sixth 40-point game.
Throughout this impressive six-game stretch, Edwards averaged 44.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 57.9% from the field and 48.7% from beyond the arc. With his scoring prowess and potential for growth, it’s clear that Anthony Edwards has a bright future ahead of him in the NBA.
