When the going gets tough, the tough gets going for Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
There will be one more game in this rollercoaster playoff series to determine which team will advance and which squad will go home.
“Guys just believing in themselves,” Edwards said after his 27-point outing, powering the Timberwolves to a Game 6 blowout win over the reigning champion Denver Nuggets, 115-70.
They force a winner-goes-home Game 7 back in Denver.
[ALSO READ: Edwards, Timberwolves stave off elimination after 45-point Game 6 demolition of Nuggets to force Game 7]
After suffering three straight defeats, Minnesota came out swinging back at home, leading by as many as 50 points en route to their biggest playoff win in franchise history.
“I think the last three games, we were all down on ourselves, just trying to point a finger [or] blame a finger to somebody.”
“Before the game, the coaches did a great job of putting a clip together as far as the plays that we made in the two games that we won against these guys [Nuggets]. Everybody started to believe after that little edit that they put together and I can tell the energy shifted after that little edit so that was big-time.”
After the much-needed video edit and it was time to walk the talk on the court.
The Timberwolves responded and left no doubt that this series will go the distance.
Asked on what led to their riveting response back at home, Edwards offered a blunt response: “We got Mike Conley back. That was it. 13 points, just efficient. He’s always going to make the right play.”
"Sh*t, we got Mike Conley back. That was it."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 17, 2024
Anthony Edwards kept it short and simple when asked what fueled the Timberwolves' dominant Game 6 win over the Nuggets 😂pic.twitter.com/bSrp7HhUiX
Just a typical Edwards answer but those words speak loudly on a young Timberwolves squad who relied all-season long on the veteran leadership of Conley, the team’s oldest player at 36.
Conley, a 17-year NBA veteran, returned to the starting line-up after missing Game 5 with a calf strain and provided the steady presence for Minnesota, who led by as many as 50 points.
Edwards then credited teammate Jayden McDaniels’ solid night, who poured 21 points and a stingy defense on the Nuggets guards, especially on Jamal Murray.
"Bro Jaden played great tonight... he's our X-Factor"
— NBA (@NBA) May 17, 2024
21 PTS on 8-10 shooting for Jaden McDaniels 🔥 pic.twitter.com/VJKDLagIql
“Jayden [McDaniels] played great tonight. He was fantastic tonight. He was the X-factor of the team. I think everybody knows when he plays well, we win. I feel like when Jayden plays well, nobody beats us.”
On this night, nobody did.
And Edwards is more than ready with a chance of knocking out the defending champ at their own backyard come May 20, Monday (PH time).
“It’s going to be super tough. It’s going to be super loud but as a competitor, [playing Game 7 on the road] is one of the best feelings in the world. I’m super pumped for it, I’m ready to play it.”
