When the ball gets heavy, Anthony Edwards wants it in his hands. And in Inglewood, against the Los Angeles Clippershe proved it once again.
The Minnesota Timberwolves guard sealed a 94-88 win over the Clippers, burying a massive three-pointer with 43 seconds left at Intuit Dome. The shot broke the deadlock and also ignited a fiery exchange with head coach Chris Finch.
The Go-Ahead Three and the Message to the Bench
With Minnesota up by two, Edwards attacked into a double-team and created space for a fading jumper that pushed the score to 92-88, turning the closing stretch into a two-possession game.
Right after the bucket, Ant-Man turned toward the bench with a crystal-clear message:
This is what I do!
Anthony Edwards
Speaking postgame on NBA on Prime, Edwards revealed the backstory. On the previous possession, he had taken a midrange shot and Finch told him to move the ball:
On the play before, when I took the midrange, Finchie told me “Pass the ball!” I told him, you don’t want me to pass it, you want me to shoot it.
Anthony Edwards
The back-and-forth says plenty about the mindset of the 2001-born star, who is now accustomed to putting the team on his shoulders in clutch moments.
All-Star Numbers
Edwards finished with 31 points (12-of-24 from the field), 3 rebounds and 5 assistsleading all scorers on the night. The performance carried even more weight considering the tough outing from Julius Randlewho was held to just 4 points on 1-of-10 shooting.
Without Randle’s usual offensive production, Minnesota needed a clear go-to option. Edwards didn’t hesitate.
On the other side, the Clippers were without Kawhi Leonardsidelined with an ankle issue, and dropped to 27-31 on the season. The Timberwolves improved to 37-23, strengthening their position in the Western Conference playoff race.
What the Exchange With Finch Really Means
The animated moment between Edwards and Finch shouldn’t be viewed as a rift. On the contrary, both have publicly expressed mutual respect multiple times. The scene instead reflects the competitive edge of a team aiming to take the next step.
One intriguing question remains: was Finch right to ask for a “cleaner” look – perhaps finding Rudy Gobertwho was open in the paint for several seconds? Or, in tight late-game situations, is it right to trust your closer’s instinct?
Edwards chose the latter. And at least this time, the floor backed him up.
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