The Minnesota Timberwolves’ bench emerged victorious with 64 points during their recent match. Jaden McDaniels, Donte DiVincenzo, and Naz Reid combined for a stellar performance, hitting 13 out of 22 from beyond the arc. Despite this, the Timberwolves were unable to capitalize on their strengths against the Oklahoma City Thunder, losing narrowly with a score of 128-126, thus allowing the Thunder to seize a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference finals.

How was the defeat possible?

A crucial factor was Anthony Edwards, who recorded five turnovers and only made five field goals. As a 23-year-old who has already made back-to-back All-NBA teams, Edwards is facing one of the toughest defenses in recent memory without a reliable teammate at his side. He struggled to find his rhythm throughout the game, finishing with just 16 points, which are among his lowest playoff performances.

Edwards’ shooting woes continued in the first half, managing only two attempts, the second instance in his career where he scored so few when playing at least ten minutes. Timberwolves’ coach Chris Finch commented on the necessity for Edwards to be more aggressive, emphasizing his ability to influence the game when he took control with the ball.

Despite the Thunder’s strong defense, Edwards found ways to create opportunities for his teammates. He noted, “Definitely not the points I wanted to get, but they didn’t really let me get too many shots off … my guys hit shots tonight.”

As the Timberwolves prepare for a crucial Game 5, the question looms whether they can leverage Edwards’ skills further to avoid elimination.