Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards says Game 4 overtime win vs. Nuggets to avoid sweep was ‘personal’

The basketball season isn’t over yet in Minnesota, and NBA fans in the league’s most hockey-focused state can thank Anthony Edwards for that.

“I never want to say I’ve been swept in my career,” Edwards said after Sunday’s 114-108 Game 4 overtime victory over the top-seeded Denver Nuggets. “So I definitely took it personally tonight.”

The former top pick went off with 34 points to avoid elimination, although he seemed to think his performance fell short.

“I played terrible if you ask me,” said Edwards. “I took three bad 3’s, three terrible possessions, and I almost damned put us out of the game. I didn’t play very well tonight.’

The 21-year-old Edwards was 12 of 27 from the field, which is just a hair short of his regular shooting score of 45.9 percent.

His effort was nearly wasted on a late Denver run.

Edwards put out a step-back jumper with 2:52 left in regulation that gave the Wolves a 96–84 lead, their biggest of the game, but the Nuggets came back with three consecutive three-pointers.

A jumper from Jokic cut the lead to one with 49 seconds left. He was fouled by Towns on the other end and made one of two free throws to tie the game with 12 seconds remaining.

Edwards had the ball at the end for the potential game winner, but Kentavious Caldwell-Pope knocked it out of his hands before he could shoot.

Nikola Jokic tied a playoff career high with 43 points and added 11 rebounds and six assists for the Nuggets.

“We had a chance to close out a series,” Jokic said. “We just didn’t. They were fighting. They were desperate. But it is what it is.’

Rudy Gobert added 14 points and 15 rebounds for Minnesota, which held on after Denver scored the final 12 points of regulation to force overtime.

Game 5 is Tuesday in Denver.

Edwards is seen driving to the basket against Jokic and Nuggets swingman Bruce Brown

“We’re showing guts,” Towns said. “It’s weird, when our backs are against the wall, we seem to find a way to win. It’s great that we have it tonight and we have to do it three more times.’

Jamal Murray finished with 19 points and Aaron Gordon scored 14 for Denver, which looked poised to get a chance to rest for the second round where it would meet the Suns-Clippers series winner, who beat Phoenix by 3 -1 leads.

The Nuggets wanted to win a series for the first time in team history, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by this year’s team.

“That’s a missed opportunity, but we’re still leading, we still have a commanding lead and we’re going to go back home and do what we have to do,” said Murray.

Edwards took a step forward this year as Towns missed 52 games with a calf strain. He took over the scoring burden and produced several exciting moments for the Timberwolves and was supported by his veteran teammates, who begged the athletic youngster to take over the lead in games.

‘I know my team. I know they’re counting on me to pick us up,” Edwards said. ‘That’s exactly what I do. I feel that I come alive the most in those moments.

‘

Anthony Edwards #1 of the Timberwolves celebrates with Mike Conley #10 during overtime

Edwards revitalized Minnesota in the third as the team went on a 23-9 run. He scored 16 of his runs in the quarter and the Timberwolves eventually led with 12 midway through the fourth.

“He has a special quality that we talked about,” said Minnesota coach Chris Finch. “He’s not afraid of those moments right now. You see what they are made of. They can get shy about it. He certainly won’t.’

Minnesota lost to Memphis in the first round last year and relinquished a three-double-digit lead in the fourth quarter.

This time, Jokic took another lead from Wolves – until they came back with 18 overtime points.

“We’re not going to go undefeated in the postseason,” Denver coach Michael Malone said. “So yes, we lost a game, we had our chances, but we have to go home and regroup and not feel sorry for ourselves and get ready to play against a team that has life in it.”