Anthony Edwards put the basketball world on discover along with his 43-point efficiency in Minnesota’s Recreation 1 win over Denver on Saturday.
Together with his third consecutive 35-point outing in these playoffs, the rising celebrity joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James as one in all 4 gamers in historical past to have three such video games on the age of twenty-two or youthful.
Edwards additionally joined Bryant as the one participant 22 or below to register consecutive 40-point video games within the postseason. “Ant-Man” had scored 40 within the Recreation 4 closeout win over the Suns final week.
In addition to the numerous followers and analysts who had been in awe of Edwards’ efficiency on Saturday, even his opponents, particularly Nikola Jokic, could not assist however marvel at his skillset. In the course of the post-game presser, Jokic known as the Timberwolves guard “a particular participant” who poses too many issues to his crew.
“He is a particular participant,” Jokic stated of Edwards. “I’ve big respect for him. He can do every little thing on the ground. I feel it’s worthwhile to take pleasure in and respect your opponent … simply how good and proficient he’s. It was him within the first half, he scored like 20-something within the first half. Then it was KAT and Mike Conley had some large factors. Naz Reid had a tremendous fourth quarter, and, after all, Ant had a giant fourth quarter, too. They’re a very proficient crew, that is why they had been the No. 1 seed for a lot of the yr.”
Edwards was equally respectful to Jokic, calling him “one of the best participant on this planet” and the defending champions “one of the best crew on this planet” throughout his presser.
The mutual respect however, there was plenty of chippiness and physicality between the 2 groups on Saturday, particularly between Aaron Gordon and Karl-Anthony Cities.
All indicators level to the sequence going seven video games. The Nuggets enter Monday’s Recreation 2 as -220 favorites to degree up the sequence.
