Anthony Edwards Drops 43 Points In A Thrilling Game 1Win In Denver ๐Ÿœ๐Ÿ”ฅ | NBA on TNT

NBA on TNT
4 May 202414:51

Summary

TLDRIn a thrilling game one of the Western Conference semi-finals, the Minnesota Timberwolves secured a 106-99 victory over the Denver Nuggets, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. Anthony Edwards was a standout player, scoring a remarkable 43 points, marking his second 40-point game in the playoffs. Nasir Reed also made a significant impact, contributing 14 points in the fourth quarter alone. Despite the Nuggets' efforts, including a strong performance from Michael Porter Jr. and a late surge from Jamal Murray, the Timberwolves' depth and strategy proved too much. The game was marked by a high-energy pace and intense competition, setting the stage for an exciting series ahead.

Takeaways

  • ๐Ÿ€ Anthony Edwards had an impressive performance, scoring 43 points and leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 106-99 victory over the Denver Nuggets in game one.
  • ๐Ÿ“ˆ The Timberwolves had a significant 18-7 run, with Nas Reed scoring 10 straight points, contributing to their series lead.
  • ๐Ÿšซ The Minnesota defense was effective, particularly against the Denver bench, which struggled throughout the game.
  • ๐Ÿ‘ Nas Reed's fourth-quarter surge with 14 points was pivotal, showcasing his value as the Sixth Man of the Year.
  • ๐Ÿค” The commentators discussed the need for Denver to adjust their strategy, possibly involving more play from DeAndre Jordan to support their star player.
  • ๐Ÿ”ฅ Anthony Edwards' shooting skills were highlighted, with a focus on his three-point shooting ability, which has improved significantly.
  • ๐Ÿ‘ Mike Conley's contribution was also noted, as he scored 14 points, including a couple of threes, after being scoreless in the first half.
  • ๐Ÿ“Š Despite Denver winning the three-point line and the foul line, and Minnesota giving up 26 points off turnovers, the Timberwolves still secured the win.
  • ๐Ÿค• Jamal Murray's performance was affected by his health, as he struggled in the first half but managed to score 17 points in the second half.
  • ๐ŸŽ‰ The Timberwolves achieved a franchise playoff record with their win, marking a significant moment for the team.
  • ๐Ÿ“ The coaches acknowledged the need for Denver to improve and adapt their game plan for the remainder of the series.

Q & A

  • What was the final score of the game between Minnesota and Denver?

    -The final score was 106 to 99 in favor of Minnesota.

  • Which team took the lead in the first game of the series?

    -Minnesota took the lead in the first game of the series.

  • How many points did Anthony Edwards score in the game?

    -Anthony Edwards scored 43 points in the game.

  • What was significant about Nas Reed's performance in the fourth quarter?

    -Nas Reed scored 14 points in the fourth quarter, including 10 straight points, which contributed to Minnesota's 18-7 run.

  • What was the issue with the Denver bench according to the commentators?

    -The Denver bench was considered a weak point as they did not have a strong performance, with the bench points in the game being 23-15 in favor of Minnesota.

  • What was the commentators' view on the importance of the pace of the game for the Joker?

    -The commentators noted that the pace of the game was sped up, which was not the Joker's preferred pace, and this affected his performance.

  • How did the commentators describe Anthony Edwards' overall game?

    -The commentators described Anthony Edwards as the complete package with great athleticism, skill set, and poise, being fun to watch and not getting discouraged despite missing shots.

  • What was the record set by Anthony Edwards in the playoffs?

    -Anthony Edwards set a franchise playoff record with 43 points scored in the game.

  • What was the commentators' opinion on the importance of the bench in the series?

    -The commentators believed that the strength of the bench would be a key factor in the series, as Denver's bench was not as strong as Minnesota's.

  • What was the commentators' view on the officiating during the game?

    -The commentators criticized the officiating, particularly the frequency of technical fouls and the impact on the game's flow.

  • What strategy did Minnesota use against Denver's Joker?

    -Minnesota used a strategy of throwing three seven-footers at Joker, making him work harder and speeding up the game, which was not his preferred pace.

Outlines

00:00

๐Ÿ€ Minnesota Timberwolves' Victory and Player Performances

The first paragraph discusses the Minnesota Timberwolves' win in game one against the Denver Nuggets, with a final score of 10699. The game was closely contested until Minnesota went on an 18-7 run, largely due to Anthony Edwards' impressive performance, scoring 43 points. Nas Reed also had a significant impact, scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter. The commentary highlights the need for Denver to adjust their strategy, particularly concerning their reliance on the Joker, and the importance of bench strength in the series.

05:02

๐Ÿ“Š Game Statistics and Denver's Strategy Critique

The second paragraph delves into specific game statistics, noting that despite Denver winning the three-point line and the foul line, and Minnesota giving up 26 points off turnovers, Minnesota still secured the victory with a score of 106 to 99. The commentary suggests that Denver may have over-relied on their star player, the Joker, and that their bench strength was outmatched by Minnesota's. It also mentions the physical exertion required from the Joker when playing against certain Minnesota players and the potential need for Denver to utilize their bench players more effectively.

10:04

๐Ÿค Coaches' Insights and Anthony Edwards' Standout Performance

The third paragraph provides insights from the coaches, praising the communication and strategy during the game. It emphasizes the importance of playing a full 48 minutes of focused basketball against a talented team like Denver. The paragraph also highlights Anthony Edwards' exceptional performance, drawing comparisons to Kobe Bryant for his back-to-back 40-point playoff games at a young age. The summary acknowledges the defensive efforts against Jamal Murray and the overall defensive strategy against the Joker. It concludes with an admiration for Edwards' shooting skills and the challenge he presents to opposing teams.

Mindmap

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กBlind Squirrel

The term 'blind squirrel' is a metaphor used in the script to describe someone who, despite a lack of skill or insight, occasionally gets things right by chance. In the context of the video, it's likely a playful self-deprecation by the speaker, suggesting that they occasionally make good calls or observations, even if they don't fully understand the game.

๐Ÿ’กAcronym

An acronym is a word formed from the initial letters of a name or phrase. In the script, 'NZ Reed' and 'Joker' are acronyms referring to players' names, likely shorthand used by commentators or fans. NZ Reed refers to Naz Reid, and 'Joker' is a nickname for Nikola Jokic, a professional basketball player.

๐Ÿ’กSeries Lead

A 'series lead' in sports refers to the advantage a team has in a multi-game competition, such as a playoff series. In the script, it is mentioned that Minnesota has taken a 'one-nothing' series lead, meaning they have won the first game out of a series that will determine the overall winner.

๐Ÿ’กScoring Run

A 'scoring run' is a sequence of plays in a game where one team consistently scores points while the other team does not. The script mentions an '18-7 run' by the Minnesota Timberwolves, indicating a strong offensive performance by the team during a specific period of the game.

๐Ÿ’กPoise

Poise refers to a person's ability to remain calm and composed, especially in difficult situations. In the context of the video, it is used to describe the impressive demeanor of a young basketball player, Anthony Edwards, who maintains his composure during the game, contributing to his team's success.

๐Ÿ’กSixth Man of the Year

The 'Sixth Man of the Year' is an award given to the best player coming off the bench in the NBA. In the script, it is mentioned in reference to Naz Reid's performance, highlighting his significant contribution to the team's success despite not being a starter.

๐Ÿ’กTechnical Foul

A 'technical foul' in basketball is a type of infraction that involves unsportsmanlike conduct or other violations that are not directly related to game play. The script includes a commentary on the officiating, criticizing the officials for giving out technical fouls that the speaker feels were unwarranted.

๐Ÿ’กPick and Roll

A 'pick and roll' is a basketball play in which a player sets a screen (or 'pick') for a teammate, who then attempts to drive towards the basket. The script discusses how the pace of the pick and roll was altered during the game, affecting the performance of a key player.

๐Ÿ’กFoul Trouble

Being in 'foul trouble' means a player has accumulated multiple fouls and is at risk of being disqualified from the game if more are committed. The script mentions Anthony Towns being in foul trouble, which could have affected his playing time and the team's strategy.

๐Ÿ’กHome Court Advantage

Home court advantage refers to the benefits a team has when playing in their own arena, such as familiarity with the court and support from the home crowd. The script notes that Minnesota managed to 'swipe the home court edge,' meaning they won the first game of the series away from their home arena.

๐Ÿ’กPlayoffs

The playoffs are the elimination tournaments held after the regular season in many sports, including basketball, to determine the league champion. The script discusses the performance of players and teams during the NBA playoffs, which is a critical time for showcasing skill and securing a championship.

Highlights

Minnesota Timberwolves took game one against Denver with a final score of 10699.

Anthony Edwards had an impressive 43-point game, showcasing his athletic prowess and skill set.

Nas Reed scored 10 straight points for Minnesota during a crucial 18-7 run.

Durk's commentary emphasized the importance of the bench performance, with Minnesota outscoring Denver 2315 in bench points.

Mike Conley contributed significantly with 14 points, stepping up after a scoreless first half.

Anthony Towns also had a noteworthy performance with 20 points.

The Timberwolves achieved a feat no other team has done since March 29th by beating the Nuggets on their home floor.

The final score was 106 to 99 in favor of Minnesota, highlighting their ability to overcome Denver's lead.

Reggie Jackson provided a spark for Denver with a strong early performance.

Jamal Murray struggled in the first half but showed resilience with a circus shot in the second half.

The Nuggets' lack of a strong bench was a point of discussion, with the Timberwolves having a more impactful bench.

Anthony Edwards' comparison to Kobe Bryant for his back-to-back 40-point playoff games at 22 or younger was mentioned.

The strategy of playing against Joker with two big bodies was praised as it prevented double-teaming and opening up the court for Denver.

The importance of maintaining a consistent pace throughout the game was discussed, with the Nuggets appearing discombobulated at times.

The communication and cooperation between the coaching staff during the game were highlighted as smooth and effective.

The need for Denver to improve and adjust their strategy for the remainder of the series was emphasized.

The transcript ends with a humorous note about sending someone fishing, a light-hearted jab at the competitive nature of the game.

Transcripts

00:00

your a blind squirrel and the acorn

00:02

moment for the

00:06

evening but good call chuckster you were

00:08

right on it man yeah thank you brother

00:11

that was uh man that's a that's a heck

00:13

of a game 10699 is your final score as

00:16

Minnesota takes game one in Denver um

00:21

just a that game was tied at 84 and then

00:24

came an 18-7 run by the Minnesota

00:27

Timberwolves at one point Nas Reed

00:29

scored 10 straight points uh for

00:32

Minnesota and they take the one- nothing

00:34

series lead let's take a look at couple

00:36

of performances Durk let's start with

00:39

the obvious let's start with Anthony

00:40

Edwards and what we saw in in the course

00:42

of a 43-point game yeah honestly he just

00:45

kept on doing what he was doing early on

00:48

uh attacking and all certain he had a

00:49

good Rhythm uh all night long do it all

00:53

pull-ups post UPS drives yeah what is it

00:56

about his game that impresses you the

00:58

most I mean his Poise at that that age

01:00

obviously he's an unbelievable athlete

01:03

uh with great with the mindset he's got

01:06

the skill set with it so I mean he's

01:08

he's he's the complete package and I

01:09

love you know he doesn't get discouraged

01:11

he just attacks all night long he might

01:13

miss a couple but he keeps coming he can

01:16

dance he can shoot he can I mean he's

01:19

got a lot of stuff to his game and he's

01:20

uh he's been fun to watch in his

01:22

playoffs 43 points on 17 out of 29

01:25

shooting

01:27

meantime you got to get other

01:29

contributions and NZ Reed for the first

01:32

three quarters two points on one of four

01:34

and then he goes nuts in the fourth

01:36

quarter with 14 points Sixth Man of the

01:39

Year remember we talked to him the other

01:40

night and folks in Minnesota say two

01:42

words N Reed well I said that the

01:45

halftime he was the guy who had to step

01:46

up because Reggie Jackson I played him

01:49

the first half if you're going to be the

01:51

Sixth Man of the Year you can't let the

01:52

other team out score you first let me

01:54

say one thing hey Mr official nobody

01:56

came to see your ass play stop giving

01:58

Taun and technicals in the game nobody

02:00

came to see you you give a kid a warning

02:03

you don't call no toning technical in

02:06

the playoffs don't do that staring yeah

02:08

yeah for staring don't do that but to me

02:11

Nas Reed is the one guy because they got

02:14

all the starters they're going to score

02:16

but if NS Reed he has to have such a

02:19

huge Advantage Off the Bench and then

02:21

and obviously at halftime R Jackson had

02:23

outscored him and that's not what the M

02:26

toal Temple W strength is man this is uh

02:30

this was fun trying to figure out how

02:32

they're going to play each other I had

02:33

told Kenny I says kcp is too light in

02:37

the cakes Jamal Murray is just not he's

02:40

on one leg I says a Aaron Gordon is the

02:45

one guy and the thing that impressed me

02:47

when he was going against Eric Garden he

02:49

was just attacking but the biggest thing

02:52

I learned from this game that that we

02:54

talked about it before the game the

02:55

Denver bench they have no bench and me

02:58

and Dirk were talking man this a lot to

03:00

ask of the Joker to play against them

03:02

two big and I tell you give Minnesota

03:04

some credit they use the two big guys

03:06

then they use n Reed then they use uh

03:09

slow-mo they were going to make Joker

03:12

work and I'm concerned about the Joker

03:14

cuz he going to have to play pretty much

03:16

I I think you got to play DeAndre Jordan

03:18

even for five seven minutes or something

03:22

like that that he kind of leads into

03:25

into what you've got going on here

03:27

because I know you got your eye on Joker

03:28

on Joker yeah but yeah he was talking a

03:30

lot he was talking to him he was talking

03:31

to me he was talking to Mickey Brit he

03:33

talking everybody him back just he

03:35

didn't shut up back there but I I will

03:37

tell you this this is the first time

03:38

Chuck that I I I thought the Joker got

03:41

sped up I I never I've never seen him

03:44

get sped up I would run to the board but

03:45

this is more important here is as he's

03:48

bringing out right he runs over here now

03:51

he's bringing up this pace is not the

03:52

Joker's pace and you just going down

03:55

that is not a joke of pass that is not

03:57

the pace that he plays at now the Denver

03:59

Nuggets are

04:00

discombobulated but they still get a

04:02

basket but the exertion and the force

04:04

that he had to do to get that so now

04:06

when you run the pick and roll a little

04:07

bit faster than he normally is a little

04:09

bit deeper cuz they playing good defense

04:11

now a little bit sped up on his shot and

04:13

a hand in the face to

04:16

me great defensive effort by Rudy goar

04:19

and call Anthony Towns at the end even

04:21

though he was in foul trouble and Nas

04:23

Reed those three guys sped The Joker up

04:26

for the first time that I've ever seen

04:29

ever in

04:30

basketball yeah it's almost like he was

04:33

trying to do a little too much but you

04:35

know they got three seven Footers to

04:36

throw at him and I mean he he had to do

04:39

a lot he's dribbling crosscourt throwing

04:41

hook passes I mean it's just it was it

04:43

was too much um I do like I do like

04:46

Minnesota I think they're their their

04:49

depth uh their length uh they're going

04:52

to be they're going to be tough to beat

04:53

in this series but I still think it's

04:55

going to be a long and fun series um but

04:58

you know Denver needs to be a little

04:59

better yeah I I thought that uh I

05:02

thought they went to the Joker too much

05:04

I've never seen them go to him as much

05:06

they did especially in the second half

05:08

uh because it was definitely more second

05:10

half than first half but some guys on

05:14

Denver you know I'm I'm looking I I like

05:17

I say I don't think you can play Joker

05:19

against those two guys and NS Reed for

05:22

45 40 minutes a night in a seven game

05:25

series because yo he he's exerting so

05:28

much energy

05:30

on those guys so they got to figure out

05:32

something I don't know this dude Zeke

05:35

Naji and I and obviously DeAndre is

05:38

older but they going to have to figure

05:40

out something the uh bench points in

05:43

this game 2315 in favor of Minnesota

05:46

points in the paint 52- 42 in favor of

05:49

Minnesota after they were tied at 22

05:52

with the half Mike Conley stepped up

05:54

huge too he was scoreless in the first

05:56

half he finished with 14 knocked down a

05:58

couple of threes uh Carl Anthony towns

06:01

had 20 and Minnesota's done something

06:04

that nobody has done since March 29th

06:05

and that's beat the Nuggets on their

06:08

floor and the team that beat him on

06:09

March 29th same team you saw tonight the

06:12

Minnesota Timberwolves and it's 106 to

06:15

99 your final in game light the cakes

06:19

cakes we're so used to hearing that we

06:20

don't even bat an eye anymore because

06:23

you've been seen that for for years

06:26

carac the Magnificent oh one of the

06:29

great Johnny Carson how old you got to

06:31

be to know Johnny Carson you got love

06:33

Johnny Carson you got to be old to know

06:35

that love Johnny

06:38

[Music]

06:46

Carson there we go now to the highlights

06:51

uh as Chris Finch makes his

06:53

way toward the bench he had a seat in

06:56

the second row as Mike an Nori his

06:58

assistant was

07:00

on the sidelines on his feet Anthony

07:02

Edwards just came out

07:06

smoking they jumped out to a 14-2 lead

07:09

an 18-4

07:13

lead and

07:15

Edwards in the first quarter had

07:20

16 Reggie Jackson was great tonight gave

07:23

them a spark early when they needed it

07:25

that's for

07:28

sure and Michael Porter with the

07:32

Finish one-point game Joker adds to the

07:38

[Music]

07:40

lead connley to cat and Cat with the

07:46

bank now watch The Joker this is a lot

07:49

of energy

07:51

erning who's complaining hey he's

07:53

pulling on my jersey yeah 3532 at this

07:57

point there's cavius Caldwell pop

08:06

three wide openen three and cans

08:10

it I thought he played a great third

08:12

quarter to really get

08:14

going

08:16

yeah

08:18

Joker in the

08:20

paint and for the first time in this

08:22

postseason the Nuggets actually had the

08:24

lead at the half this a big sequence

08:26

here to get him going block dunk on the

08:28

other end and one and man look at

08:32

K Edwards man is there anything the man

08:35

can't do

08:38

n Jamal Murray meantime struggled in the

08:43

first half zero on 0 for five comes up

08:45

with a circus shot here hang

08:51

time and they had a three-point lead

08:53

Joker free throws made it a five-point

08:55

game and now it's 67 get off me little

08:58

man and there's tra him a little bit in

09:00

game two hey yeah too little and then

09:05

the real thing people came to see him

09:08

yeah nobody came to see you not even

09:11

your family after all those two little

09:13

signs of mother player for the stair

09:15

down yeah come on now now look at see

09:18

and Jamal

09:19

Murray yeah

09:21

reacted yeah it didn't

09:24

get there was no te coming there there's

09:27

Edwards again you got to let him play

09:29

with the a little bit let him have some

09:32

fun from when this game was tied at 84

09:35

look at NAS Reed who had 14 points in

09:39

the fourth quarter including 10

09:43

straight As the Timberwolves put an 18-7

09:47

run on them that broke that

09:49

8484 time little get in the wait room

09:51

little

09:53

man too little that's some Georg on

09:55

Georgia crime right there contus cwell

09:59

go dogs 106 to 99 is your final score so

10:04

Minnesota goes in there and swipes the

10:06

home court Edge in game one Edwards just

10:09

going nuts 43 points second 40-point

10:12

game of these playoffs for him uh cat

10:15

had 20 uh Nas Reed again huge Off the

10:20

Bench for the sixthman of the year what

10:22

do you say we hear from both

10:25

coaches wasn't the ideal situation there

10:27

but could that was was that almost the

10:29

same could go with you and Finch I mean

10:30

it seemed like you everything just went

10:32

well I mean I know it wasn't ideal or

10:33

anything but seemed like you

10:34

communicated well everything just went

10:35

kind of smoothly yeah for sure I mean

10:37

all the plays that we scored on were my

10:39

calls and the ones we didn't were his no

10:41

I'm joking but yeah it went well and I

10:43

think the one thing about um finchy is

10:46

you know he even though he's up a lot

10:48

during games he's not calling a lot of

10:49

plays I mean he really isn't I mean

10:50

there's dead balls and things like that

10:52

side out of bounds after some makes and

10:54

timeouts where he'll just kind of tell

10:55

me things to look for but he was great

10:57

he's like I don't we don't want to make

10:58

it clunky is the term that he used and I

11:01

think that we did a good job of that and

11:03

things are awful awful easy when you

11:05

have Mike connley out there to settle

11:06

things down Kyle Anderson and those guys

11:08

so it did move I thought that it it went

11:11

well for sure in a in a not ideal

11:14

situation obviously but um uh for sure I

11:17

think that it went as smooth as it

11:18

possibly could have what did you learn

11:21

that it's going to require of your group

11:22

I guess in order to beat this team

11:24

consistently 48 minutes you can't play a

11:26

half of basketball in the Western

11:28

Conference semi-finals

11:29

and um they're a very talented team you

11:32

know I said it all week long and I'll

11:33

continue to say it there's a reason that

11:35

they were in first place the large

11:37

majority of the season and um give them

11:40

credit you know that they came in here

11:41

took game one um so there's a lot we can

11:44

clean up and get better at and we're

11:45

going to have to you know so we we can

11:47

try to tie this series up going back to

11:49

Minnesota after a game two but as I told

11:52

our players you know 18 to4 start so we

11:55

get down early fight like Hill to take

11:57

the lead at halftime and and then play

11:59

no defense in the third and you you

12:01

can't just trade baskets with that team

12:04

um so yeah there's a lot that we'll look

12:06

at the film and try to clean up so we

12:07

can be

12:09

better hey Derk how about this graphic

12:11

huh Kobe and Ant-Man 22 or younger back

12:15

to back 40-point playoff games yeah for

12:17

sure anytime you can be on a list with

12:19

Kobe uh you're doing something right

12:21

this this guy the future is so bright so

12:24

talented so hungry it's going he's going

12:26

to be fun to watch on the problem for

12:28

the league for our next 15 years

12:30

franchise playoff record 43 tonight so

12:33

look when you look at these you look at

12:35

these numbers Denver won the three-point

12:38

line they won the foul line Minnesota

12:41

gave him 26 points off turnover and the

12:43

Timberwolves still won that game 106 to

12:48

99 yeah it's

12:50

uh you know there it's some I I think

12:53

what's this Ser is going to come down to

12:55

is Denver's bench the wolves have a

12:58

better bench

13:00

Jamal look listen Jamal's not healthy

13:02

either uh you can tell you the guy that

13:04

great don't go a whole half and don't

13:06

score all 17 in the second half but also

13:09

I think you got to give Denver the

13:11

worlds credit because they guarded him

13:12

the full length of the Court they're

13:13

trying to wear him down they put them

13:16

two big bodies on Joker and cuz I love

13:19

the fact that they didn't double him

13:20

because every time you double him you

13:22

just open up things for Gordon lobs or

13:24

Michael Porter Jr or kcp but the main

13:28

thing man that damn man Anthony Edwards

13:32

he man he is special I mean you just

13:35

showed him up there with Kobe man we're

13:38

seeing something right now that we

13:41

better like it like it reminds me it's

13:44

pretty special CH he's pretty special I

13:46

mean he and I didn't me and Dirk were

13:49

talking in the back when watching game

13:51

he he said something he said he put a

13:53

lot of work on my game because we knew

13:55

he was really athletic and everything I

13:57

didn't know he could shoot threes that's

13:59

the one thing that I knew he could dunk

14:01

get to the baskets he made himself a

14:03

hell of a three-point shooter and you

14:05

got a guy that talented and you have to

14:08

play him out to three and you can't keep

14:11

him in front of you man this boy going

14:14

to be a problem 17 for 39 from distance

14:17

in these playoffs he was three for seven

14:19

as we say where I grew up today you see

14:21

him fighting a bear you help the bear we

14:25

you know in the past we we've sent Dirk

14:27

nitzki fishing a time or two

14:31

and tonight you get to be part of

14:33

sending somebody else fishing we'll do

14:36

that when we come back here on

14:39

[Applause]

14:43

inside this doesn't have the same ring

14:45

to it

14:48

[Music]