There have been a lot of incredible individual performances throughout the 2023-24 NBA regular season. But, what Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves was able to do on Thursday night against the Indiana Pacers is in the running as the most impressive one.
It was the first game the Timberwolves were playing without NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns. It was revealed that Towns tore his meniscus and would be undergoing surgery, keeping him sidelined until the playoffs.
In a battle for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, Minnesota’s chances of victory shrunk with Towns sidelined. They looked to get even worse when Edwards went down with an ankle injury seconds into the game.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Anthony Edwards, Rick Carlisle, Indiana Pacers, Minnesota Timberwolves Updates
Luckily for the Timberwolves, Edwards turned into a superhero in the game. He was able to return to the game a few minutes later and put on a clinic, scoring 44 points en route to a 113-111 victory.
“My pain tolerance is high,” Edwards said in an on-court interview with Bally Sports North. “I fell hard right there just then on that block. I think I’m a pretty tough dude, though.”
That wasn’t the only painful event for Edwards in the game. In the waning moments, he missed a free throw that would have given Minnesota a three-point lead. The Pacers corralled the rebound and quickly went up the court.
Aaron Nesmith went up for a layup which Edwards came out of nowhere to block. It was an incredible display of athleticism, as Edwards banged his head on the rim as he swatted the ball away.
It was a historic moment for Edwards, who joined Kobe Bryant in a rare feat. Bryant was the only player before Edwards on Thursday night to score 40+ points and block a shot in the final three seconds of an NBA game in the last 20 years according to OptaSTATS.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Anthony Edwards, Rick Carlisle, Indiana Pacers, Minnesota Timberwolves Updates
“I found my second wind late in the fourth, and it was over,” Edwards told Bally Sports North. “Once I found my second wind I knew there was nobody that could stop me.”
Edwards certainly isn’t lying. 16 out of his 44 points were scored in the fourth quarter to help the Timberwolves pick up a much-needed win. There wasn’t much Pacers’ head coach Rick Carlisle could say about the loss, as he praised the performance of Edwards.
“His shot was next level,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said when asked about Edwards. “Even when we double-teamed him, he got away from us. Look, he’s a great player and that’s why every second of every minute of every game matters.”
If the Timberwolves are going to hold onto the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, they need Edwards to play like the star he is capable of. For at least one night, he answered the call and the franchise is hopeful he will continue doing that in the coming weeks.
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