Much of the national discourse surrounding Anthony Edwards in the aftermath of Minnesota’s Game 4 loss to Oklahoma City centered on the guard’s lack of scoring aggression.
Which feels a little ludicrous.
The Timberwolves scored 126 points — including 41 in the final frame — against a historically good defense on Monday in Minneapolis.
The box score suggests Edwards didn’t contribute much to the offensive cause. The 23-year-old guard finished with 16 points after taking just two shots in the first half. But that was largely a product of the defensive attention the Thunder paid to Edwards, which he parlayed into open shots for his teammates by making the “right play.”
“I thought Ant did a great job of letting the game dictate what he needed to do,” Wolves guard Mike Conley said. “He got downhill, he made the right plays, he shot it when he had opportunities.”
Could there be ways for Edwards to adjust offensively to create more opportunities for himself? Certainly.
Everyone noted postgame that Oklahoma City was eliminating top-of-the-floor actions. So, Conley and Finch suggested Edwards — and, just as important, Julius Randle, who truly provided Minnesota with nothing offensively in Game 4 — need to be intentional about running the court to get deeper into the floor to open up other potential actions in Game 5 on Wednesday.
Minnesota used some of those to get Edwards more chances to be aggressive over the final two frames on Monday, but in general, Edwards’ offensive performance in Game 4 was solid.
It was the other areas of the game where he left much to be desired. Minnesota’s superstar set a distinct tone at the start of Saturday’s game, which the Wolves went on to win by 42 points. He, by himself, outscored the Thunder, 16-14, in the first quarter.
On Monday, Edwards’ start was less impressive. He grabbed one rebound, got blown by on a drive by Jalen Williams and surrendered an open triple to Williams — who finished the game with 34 points — after taking a dumbfounding route around a screen.
In the fourth quarter, Edwards lost Alex Caruso on a cut that resulted in an open layup and paid no mind to a cutting Chet Holmgren off an offensive rebound created another easy finish. Those are the types of plays Conley called the “non-negotiables.”
Yes, Minnesota scored 41 in the fourth quarter, but the Thunder scored 38.
“How we won (Game 3) was everything small, we did,” Conley said. “Tonight it was like everything small, we did not do.”
Minnesota feeds off its best player. Defensive tracking data — which can, admittedly, oftentimes be shaky — had Thunder players shooting 8 for 12 from the field when guarded by Edwards in Game 4 after going 1 for 4 against him two days prior.
It sure felt like the lack of involvement in terms of shooting the ball, which the young guard worked around offensively, affected the luster with which Edwards attacked the other portions of the game. He was a ball-pressuring menace on Saturday who battled for every available board; on Monday, he was more of a bystander for large segments of the contest.
That can’t happen for Minnesota, not against Oklahoma City. Conley noted after Game 3 that Edwards is asked to do a lot for the Wolves. He bears a heavy burden.
“So, it’s really hard for him to give the energy all the time that he can defensively,” Conley said. “But, my God, if he can do it four, five, six straight possessions, we’re a completely different team — and he knows that. So, I think this next couple games is going to be big to find ways to impact the game in the same way.”
The reality is, Edwards didn’t. Not in Game 4, and it has nothing to do with how many points he scored or shots he took. The good news for the guard? He gets a chance to try again Wednesday to be the player he needs to be for Minnesota to slay the Western Conference’s new dragon.
But he has to be that elite two-way guard who impacts the game in every phase. And now, he has to do it in three consecutive games. If not, he’ll have to try again next year.
Head coach Chris Finch and Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves argue with referee Zach Zarba #15 against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Target Center on May 26, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren, bottom right, during the second half of Game 4 of the Western Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs Monday, May 26, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
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