Anthony Edwards Outshines Kyrie Irving as Timberwolves Stave Off Elimination
Sportsgrid Staff
Host · Writer
Karl-Anthony Towns finally found his groove, and the Timberwolves finally closed out a game in the Western Conference finals. Now, as they head back to Minnesota, they’re looking to keep the series alive and add even more drama against the Dallas Mavericks.
In a thrilling turn of events, Towns exploded in the second half, dropping 20 of his 25 points to help the Timberwolves secure a 105-100 victory on Tuesday night, avoiding a sweep in the process. This performance marked a pivotal moment in the series, as the Wolves kept their playoff dreams alive.
Anthony Edwards was also a standout, putting up 29 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and dishing out nine assists. His near triple-double was instrumental in the Wolves’ first trip to the conference finals in two decades, and only their second in the franchise’s 35-year history. Game 5 is set for Thursday night, and the Wolves will be looking to build on this momentum.
Towns, who had struggled with his shooting throughout the series, came in hitting just 28% from the field. But in Game 4, he was a different player, going 9 of 13 from the field and 4 of 5 from beyond the arc, even after picking up his fifth foul midway through the third quarter.
“Being aggressive,” Towns said. “Ain’t no time to have any doubts in your mind, especially at this time, it’s Game 4, down 3-0. Ain’t no time to have any doubts.”
Luka Doncic, despite recording his sixth triple-double of these playoffs with 28 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists, struggled with efficiency. He and co-star Kyrie Irving combined for just 13 of 39 from the field. Irving, previously undefeated in closeout games, finished with a mere 16 points on 1 of 6 shooting from long range.
The Timberwolves have consistently led in the final minutes of each game this series, and this time, they managed to hold on. Towns nailed a crucial 3-pointer with 5:41 remaining to put Minnesota ahead for good and followed it up with another deep shot. His third triple of the quarter extended the Wolves’ lead to six with three minutes left.
“He was super confident,” Edwards said. “He wasn’t worried about any shots previous to the shots that he hit tonight. He played exceptionally well.”
Dunk on the sportsbooks tonight! Grab SportsGrid’s free NBA picks, NBA props, and NBA SGPs.
Edwards added a clutch jumper with 39 seconds left, helping the Wolves maintain their lead despite a late scare when Doncic hit a 3-pointer and was fouled, cutting the deficit to three.
“It’s hard to close in this league,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said, noting his team’s struggles from beyond the arc, shooting just 29% in the second half. “Understanding we didn’t play our best. Give Minnesota credit. They did.”
The biggest sign of Towns’ resurgence came in the third quarter when he scored 10 points in the first seven minutes before picking up his fifth foul. This foul led to a technical against Minnesota coach Chris Finch, confined to the second row due to a knee injury.
With this win, the Timberwolves avoided becoming the 16th team out of 21 to get swept after losing the first three games of a series. Now, they aim to become just the fourth team to force at least a sixth game, as they head back to Minnesota with renewed hope and determination.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
