OKLAHOMA CITY — Regardless of his crew being outscored by 30 factors within the second half of a lopsided 114-88 Sport 1 loss to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder to open the Western Convention finals Tuesday, Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards flashed his signature confidence afterward.
“I really feel nice,” Edwards stated after scoring solely 5 factors after halftime, ending with 18 factors on 5-for-13 taking pictures.
Edwards backed up his bravado with a plan to get again within the sequence in Sport 2 on Thursday (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN): much less organizing the Wolves’ offense and extra producing it.
“I undoubtedly acquired to shoot extra,” Edwards stated. “I solely took 13 f—ing pictures. … In all probability simply get off the ball a bit of extra, play with out the ball. I feel that would be the reply. As a result of enjoying on the ball, they’re simply going to double and sit within the gaps all day.
“So, acquired to go watch some movie and decide it aside. We’ll determine it out.”
Not solely had been Edwards’ 13 makes an attempt his fewest in 11 video games this postseason, however solely a type of was taken contained in the paint.
Edwards stated that the Thunder’s schemes dictated his method in Sport 1. When requested if his proper ankle — which he turned within the first half and induced him to retreat to the locker room to have it evaluated — affected his efficiency, he replied, “No.”
“I imply, they clogged the paint,” Edwards stated. “That is what they do. They do not acquired a lot measurement down there, so that they financial institution on us not making pictures, I assume. As a result of each time I’m going to the rim it is like 4 individuals within the paint.”
Certainly, the Wolves went from scoring 72 factors in Sport 5 of the convention semifinals in closing out the Golden State Warriors to solely 20 on Tuesday in Oklahoma Metropolis — the fewest paint factors in a playoff recreation for the franchise since Sport 1 of the 2004 convention finals towards the Los Angeles Lakers, in line with ESPN Analysis.
Although Edwards was a prepared passer, his teammates had been off the mark all night time. The Wolves shot 29.4% on 3-pointers (15-for-51), accounting for probably the most makes an attempt from deep in a playoff recreation in franchise historical past.
“We had beauty, we simply must make pictures,” stated Wolves guard Donte DiVincenzo, who shot 3-for-12 on 3s off the bench. “Myself, I’ve to make a pair pictures and it loosens up the protection for Ant. It is a domino impact.”
DiVincenzo is not the one Minnesota participant who was off past the arc. Nickeil Alexander-Walker was 2-for-9, Mike Conley was 1-for-5, Naz Reid was 0-for-7.
“Generally, the passes had been late,” Wolves coach Chris Finch stated. “Generally we weren’t fairly shot-ready. Generally we have to flip them into different performs. However I did suppose we acquired a variety of actually beauty and could not join when the sport was turning towards us.”
Edwards stated he figured if the Thunder are going to remove pictures on the rim, he’d fairly be the one because the recipient for catch-and-shoot alternatives, fairly than continuously passing out of double groups.
“I needs to be all proper: play with out the ball a bit of extra, get a bit of extra cardio in,” Edwards stated. “I needs to be good.”
As Edwards delivered his postgame remarks, his veteran teammate, Julius Randle, sat subsequent to him on the information convention.
Randle led Minnesota with 28 factors on 9-for-13 taking pictures, however solely eight of these factors got here after halftime — and none on 3s after he shot 5-for-6 on 3s within the first half.
“That is on me, I acquired to get him the ball,” Finch stated of Randle. “I acquired to get him extra concerned to begin the second half.”
However a plan is simply discuss till it is executed. Minnesota spoke advert nauseum about needing to guard the basketball in Sport 1 — and proceeded to commit 19 turnovers leading to 31 factors for the Thunder.
The Wolves misplaced Sport 1 towards the Warriors, too, and reeled off 4 straight wins to advance. Randle stated they can not merely plan on a bounce-back win in Sport 2 primarily based on that.
“We proved that we are able to do it, however we acquired to make it occur, too,” Randle stated. “We won’t simply be like, ‘All proper, we did it final sequence … we will do it once more.’ It is a nice crew. They have been enjoying nice basketball all 12 months. So, the great factor is we proved to ourselves that we are able to do it. However we acquired to make it occur.”
