ANT scores playoff career-high 43 as Timberwolves take Game 1 over Nuggets

This is a different Wolves team.

 

On the strength of Anthony Edwards, the Minnesota Timberwolves continued their perfect 2024 NBA Playoffs, taking Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals over the defending champion Denver Nuggets, 106-99, Sunday (PHL).

 

Edwards scored a playoff career-high 43 points, allowing the third-ranked Timberwolves to seize homecourt away from the Nuggets. 

 

In a battle of attrition, Edwards scored 25 points in the first half, keeping Minnesota close after the Wolves lost an early 18-4 lead.

 

By the fourth quarter of a close game, the Timberwolves broke an 84-all tie, with 6th Man of the Year Naz Reid scoring 10 straight for Minnesota.

 

THAT F Æ D E A W A Y THOOOOOO 😮?💨 pic.twitter.com/iKsU035uMm

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 5, 2024

 

 

Edwards then scored the last six for the Wolves, including a tough fallaway jumper with 1:36 to go to make it a 102-91 lead.

 

ANT scored an additional 12 points in the fourth to add to his total, while Reid scored 14 of his 16 points in the final quarter.

 

THE 6MOTY IS UNSTOPPABLE. pic.twitter.com/k1d23Nubjz

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 5, 2024

 

 

Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 20 points for the Timberwolves.

 

In a rare home loss, the Nuggets got 32 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists from Nikola Jokic. However, the Joker also had seven turnovers.

 

Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray contributed 20 and 17 points, respectively, for Denver.