Anthony Edwards shows maturity and growth on final possession as Timberwolves take down Kings

SACRAMENTO – The clock was ticking down under 10 seconds in the Timberwolves’ 117-115 victory over the Kings. Sacramento wasn’t going to let Anthony Edwards just take Keegan Murray one-on-one.

Edwards had the ball in his hands near midcourt, and as he dribbled, Kings guard De’Aaron Fox came over on a double team off his man, Mike Conley. What happened next displayed the difference between Edwards in year five of his NBA career versus years three and four.

The old version of Edwards might have attempted to take on the double team and settle for a contested jumper. That’s likely what Sacramento was hoping for in that situation. Another version of Edwards might have tried to pass it, but he might’ve looked to his left away from the where the double team was coming.

The Wolves and coach Chris Finch have spent the last few years trying to make the right, simple play in these situations, and on Thursday Edwards did exactly as they’ve been telling him. His instincts and decision-making finally merged, and it was one reason the Wolves won.

“Two years ago, maybe a year ago I would’ve probably tried to go left and take a step-back jumper. But you supposed to mature as you get older,” Edwards, all of 23, said with a smile. “I made a mature play, made Finchy happy by getting to the rim. I’m pretty sure if I would’ve settled for a jumper I would’ve been hearing about it right now. That’s all that was in my mind, was getting downhill.”

Edwards delivered a quick pass to his right to Conley, and Fox scrambled back. Conley immediately threw it back to Edwards and the play was on. For years, Conley has been telling Edwards to trust him in those situations to get him the ball back. After the game, Conley appeared relieved that Edwards finally listened to him. Edwards had told Conley he better get him the ball back.

“He better give it back or I’ll put him in a chokehold,” Edwards said.

Once he got it back, Edwards didn’t settle for a jumper. He attacked the rim. With Fox neutralized, Edwards drove around Murray and got to the rim where Domanatas Sabonis fouled him with 2.4 seconds to play. Edwards hit the two free throws (he was 7-for-7 from the line as part of his 32 points) and after Murray missed at the other end, the Wolves won what was a thrilling game on the road for their first victory of the season.

“A couple years ago, he probably would have shot the three,” said Naz Reid, who had 19 points off the bench. “But him being aggressive in attack mode, going downhill, whether he finishes the layup or is getting the foul, that’s a plus for us. He goes to the rim so hard, he’s bound to get the call or finish.”

Edwards said his intention in that moment was to get to the rim the entire time. That’s also a different mindset from years past when he would trust his midrange jumper late in games.

“I got to get to the rim, put pressure on the refs,” Edwards said.

The Wolves’ offense found a rhythm in the second half of Thursday’s game that it didn’t have in the first six quarters to begin the season. Julius Randle helped carry them in the opening 24 minutes with 22 of his 33 points. He gave all the credit to Edwards in the second half for helping the Wolves get into that flow. Edwards had four assists, but his decision-making against frequent doubles provided the difference.

“He’s so dynamic and he was constantly making the right play the whole time,” Randle said. “They were putting two on the ball. He was making the right play. When they did it, and he had his isolation situations, he was knocking down shots getting to the rim, not settling. So when you got a player like that, your flow is going to come easily, you get shots so naturally.”

Edwards said the difference was he was attacking the double at times as well, and if the second defender would retreat after initially bluffing him, he’d attack. That second-half performance was evidence of Edwards’ growth in decision-making and reading defenses the Wolves have seen gradually the last few years.

Edwards sometimes struggled late in games last year because he didn’t have the muscle memory to succeed in those moments. If Thursday is an indication, he’s acquired some.

“Give Ant the ball,” Randle said. “Give him the ball, let him make plays. They double team, I’m there for them. We got outlets around him. If they don’t, good luck.”