Anthony Edwards discovered himself continuously surrounded by defenders, a deliberate technique by the Denver Nuggets to include Minnesota’s standout guard.
In a tactical transfer, the Nuggets stifled Edwards, limiting him to 18 factors – 15 beneath his sequence common – of their 112-97 victory over the Timberwolves in Game 5.
“We knew we had to change things up against Anthony Edwards. That guy is a one-man wrecking crew,” remarked Nuggets coach Michael Malone. “We trapped him. We double-teamed him. We swarmed behind him.”
This defensive method additionally took a toll on Edwards. Not solely did he face the strain of shouldering the offensive burden, however he additionally exerted himself defensively, aiming to disrupt Nuggets guard Jamal Murray.
“Getting in the best shape of my life,” cracked Edwards, whose group has dropped three in a row within the sequence. “So it’s fun.”
The Nuggets dared anybody not named Edwards to beat them as they took a 3-2 lead within the second-round sequence with an opportunity to shut out the Timberwolves on Thursday night time in Minneapolis. The technique labored, partly, as a result of Anthony had fewer clear seems to be on the basket. The Timberwolves have been additionally lacking Mike Conley, who was dominated out earlier than the sport with soreness in his proper Achilles.
“They’re just playing better than us right now,” Edwards stated. “They’re playing harder than us. They’re getting all the loose balls. Everything’s going their way. They’ve got the momentum, man. We’ve got to figure out a way to shift it back our way.”
Karl-Anthony Towns had a stable night time regardless of showing to tweak his left knee within the first half, ending with 23 factors. Rudy Gobert, too, had 18 factors and 11 rebounds. But by preserving Edwards in examine on 5-of-15 taking pictures, the Nuggets restricted the harm and constructed a lead that stretched to as many as 18 factors.
With a lot consideration surrounding him, Edwards resorted to passing and completed with a team-high 9 assists. But it was his instantaneous offense the Timberwolves have been in determined want of late within the sport. He had 4 factors within the fourth quarter.
“We’ve got to do a better job making it easier for him,” Towns stated of Edwards. “It’s about executing at a higher level. The guys in the other locker room here are executing at a championship level in these last three games. They’ve shown when you’re executing at that level what the results will be.”
After being so dominant on protection within the first two video games, profitable two in a row in Denver by preserving the Nuggets beneath 100 factors, the Timberwolves have discovered it harder to include the related Nuggets ever since. Denver has averaged 114.7 factors over its final three video games.
“Their guys are making shots,” Edwards stated.
Especially three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, who had 40 factors on 15-of-22 taking pictures. He additionally had 13 assists and no turnovers.
“He’s the best player in NBA,” Edwards stated. “He was special tonight. I’ve got to give him his flowers. He was that guy tonight.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com