The Minnesota Timberwolves entered their playoff series with the Golden State Warriors full of optimism, riding high on their performance against the Los Angeles Lakers.
With Anthony Edwards firing on all cylinders, the Timberwolves seemed ready to take the next step towards greatness. However, what followed was a dramatic turn of events that left Minnesota struggling, especially after Edwards faced a first-half nightmare in Game 1.
Edwards’ early struggles frustrated his coach
Despite a strong start, the Timberwolves found themselves trailing 44-39 by halftime. The biggest issue? Anthony Edwards, their star player, had a disastrous first half. He scored just one point, missing all eight of his field goal attempts, including all three of his 3-point attempts.
Coach Chris Finch quickly noted that the struggles began with Edwards.
“It starts with Anthony,” Finch remarked.
“He struggled early, and you could see the light go out for a while. We had to try to get him going in the second half.”
Edwards did manage to recover in the second half, finishing the game with 23 points and 14 rebounds, but the damage had already been done. The Timberwolves found themselves trying to claw back into the game after the poor first half.
Finch didn’t hold back when assessing the situation. As the leader of the team, Edwards was expected to set the tone, even when his shot wasn’t falling.
“You’re the leader of the team, and you gotta come out and set the tone… If your shot’s not going, you still have to carry the energy,” Finch said.
The message was clear: Edwards needed to take charge, and his team’s success depended on him doing so.
While the Timberwolves lost Game 1, Finch remained optimistic. He pointed to Edwards’ second-half performance as a sign that the team still had a chance.
With Game 2 looming and an opportunity to play in front of their home crowd, the Timberwolves had another shot at taking control of the series. The upcoming game also brought hope: Warriors’ star Stephen Curry, who had been struggling with a hamstring injury, could be sidelined, potentially giving the Timberwolves an advantage.
The absence of Curry could prove to be a game-changer for Minnesota. Curry had been limping after just 13 minutes of play in Game 1 and was later diagnosed with a hamstring strain. Even a mild strain could keep him out for several games, and it’s looking increasingly likely that Curry will miss at least the next three games of the series.
With Curry out of the equation, all eyes will be on Anthony Edwards to lead the Timberwolves to a critical win. The team’s success now hinges on their star player’s ability to shake off his early struggles and deliver the kind of performance that his team needs. Finch has made it clear that Edwards is expected to set the tone for the entire team.
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