Anthony Edwards’ Minnesota Timberwolves fell 118-103 during Thursday’s Game 2 Western Conference finals road matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, dropping into a daunting 2-0 series hole.
Nevertheless, the superstar shooting guard made franchise history with an impressive scoring feat, putting his early career ascension into historical context.
Edwards Becomes Minnesota’s All-Time Leading Playoff Scorer
Despite going just 1-for-9 from 3-point range (11.1%), Edwards tallied a team-high 32 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, shooting 12-for-26 overall (46.2%). With a third-quarter layup, the 23-year-old reached 1,051 career playoff points, surpassing Timberwolves legend Kevin Garnett (1,049 points) to become Minnesota’s all-time leading postseason scorer.
history in the making. pic.twitter.com/ZYL8Qq3jqo
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves)
he’s only 23, btw. 👏 pic.twitter.com/Yv1TZJ87x9
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves)
By evening’s end, Edwards’ career playoff point total stood at 1,065 points. He achieved that mark in just 39 outings across his first four postseason appearances, including his second straight West finals run.
Conversely, Garnett suited up in 47 contests across eight playoff campaigns with the Timberwolves, advancing beyond Round 1 once (2004). Thus, Edwards has taken considerably less time to reach the pinnacle of Minnesota hoops.
Anthony Edwards Achieves Rare Stat Line in Game 2 Loss vs. OKC
Edwards also made NBA history in Thursday’s loss with his overall stat line. Per Real Sports, the three-time All-Star became just the fifth player ever to record at least 30 points, five rebounds, and five assists without committing a turnover in a West finals game.
Anthony Edwards is the 5th player ever to record 30/5/5 without a turnover in a WCF game. pic.twitter.com/wApq6GkqdT
— Real Sports (@realapp_)
Unfortunately for Edwards, his well-rounded performance came in vain. His sixth-seeded Timberwolves (49-33) were outmatched by the first-seeded Thunder (68-14) for the second consecutive outing.
OKC, spearheaded by superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, led by as many as 24 points late in the third quarter. The newly crowned MVP tallied a game-best 38 points, eight assists, and three steals, shooting 12-for-21 (57.1%). Meanwhile, his co-stars Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren combined for 48 points in the one-sided affair.
Conversely, Edwards’ co-star Julius Randle had an off night. He managed just six points on 2-for-11 shooting (18.2%) and missed all three of his 3-point attempts.
Edwards Declines To Speak With Media Following Game 2 Defeat
Per The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski, Edwards opted not to address the media following his squad’s Game 2 letdown. The Minnesota insider noted that the fifth-year player’s decision came after he was fined $50,000 for his profane Game 1 postgame remarks, critiquing his offensive hesitancy.
Anthony Edwards declined to speak to the media tonight after being fined $50K for a rather innocuous F-bomb the other night.
— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski)
Edwards and the Timberwolves will likely need a more balanced team effort to take down the Thunder in Saturday’s Game 3 clash in Minnesota. No squad has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series. Teams that have gotten out to 3-0 leads boast a perfect 159-0 record, making Game 3 a must-win for the Timberwolves.