Anthony Edwards silences all those who still doubted him and his Timberwolves and scores 43 against the Denver Nuggetswho lost game 1 under the blows of the Minnesota phenomenon and under their own amazing defense.
The Nuggets have the tough task of finding a solution which at the moment seems very far away, as Jokic also hinted after the match.
Let’s go in order as always and see what happened on this playoff night NBA, albeit with only one game played.
The usual key of the Timberwolves
Ok well done Anthony Edwards, but against the Suns it was easy. Ok, well done Minnesota Timberwolves, but against the current NBA champions it will be much more difficult. These are some of the things that are said about the Timberwolves, because It was hard to believe that this team is actually ready to oust the NBA champions from the throne.
Instead, tonight’s one is it same Anthony Edwards seen in the first round of playoffs, which no one can put a stop to and the Minnesota Timberwolves are the same as always, with a sensational defense built on the alternation of its big 3, to which not even Jokic can find a solution. The Serbian scored 32 points, but they came with 44% from the field and 22% from three, compared to the 58% and 36% he maintained during the season. Asked what the solution could be to this lineup of Timberwolves big men, Jokic he ironically replied “having a clone of me”, actually stating of having no solution.
The Nuggets actually even managed to find one good percentage from the arcclosing the game at 41% thanks above all to Porter Jr., Caldwell Pope and Jamal Murray.
Speaking of Murray, not even he who has accustomed us to absurd performances in the playoffs (with the two game winners over the Lakers) managed to play the game he hoped for: despite closing the game with 17 points, the Nuggets point guard had a complicated start to say the leastwhich saw it come to an end first half with 0 points scored, getting a taste of this incredible Timberwolves defense.
The usual Edwards
Who had a great start, unlike Murray, is obviously Anthony Edwardsthe key to the other half of the Nuggets, without holding back even in defense (tonight 1 steal and 2 blocks).
The Minnesota star scored 25 points in the first half and 16 in the first quarter, despite the tension. As we were saying, he then closed the race at altitude 43 points, who arrived with 59% from the field and 43% from three, giving the Nuggets another puzzle to find the solution to. Good luck coach Malone.
Ant-Man annihilated all of Denver’s defenders one by one, going to the rim with his usual energy, shooting from beyond the arc better than usual and shooting away with movements that are undeniably reminiscent of a former Chicago player who wore the number 23 shirt.
The Timberwolves’ other points came from the hands of Towns, once again invaluable in both halves of the pitch, who finished the game with 20 points while shooting 61%. Another 14 points came from Mike Conleythe true offensive mind of these T-Wolves, while he scored another 16 points Naz Reid. The peculiarity of these 16 points is that 14 of those came in the final quarter, when it was therefore more important.
The appointment is now at Monday night for game 2, before which however there is a Game 7 to enjoy this evening between Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers, to see who will manage to win between Banchero and Mitchell and win a place in the second round of these playoffs.
