It was a night full of bricks, turnovers, and some box scores that probably made the Timberwolves double-check if they were reading NBA stats or the results of a pickup game at the local YMCA. But through it all, Anthony Edwards? Laughing. Literally. Along with Julius Randle, who also couldn’t keep a straight face when the numbers came out after Minnesota’s 114-88 meltdown in Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
While fans spiraled into full panic mode and ESPN segments wondered if the Wolves had already left the series emotionally, Edwards and Randle were out there treating the loss like it was Game 1 of 82, not Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
Let’s set the scene: Anthony Edwards, the guy averaging 25.7 points in the playoffs, dropped only 18. He didn’t even sniff the scoring column in the fourth quarter. The man who’s been called “the next D-Wade with a jump shot” shot 5-of-13 from the field and 3-of-8 from three.
Jan 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) looks on during the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Meanwhile, Julius Randle came out swinging in the first half with 20 points, sinking threes like he had a point to prove. But after halftime? The man cooled off faster than the Timberwolves’ team plane. Just 8 points in the second half, and five turnovers that had him calling himself out in the postgame presser: “Five turnovers is way too much. I can’t do that. So, I mean, we can say it’s misses and makes, and it is a miss and make league, but regardless, we got to defend at a high level, and especially on the road, especially on the road.”
Still, there they were, Edwards and Randle, laughing at the box score like two dudes watching Shaqtin’ A Fool. It’s the kind of energy you get when your team shoots 15-for-51 from deep—good for 29.4%, aka “why are we even doing this?” levels of futility. Randle? 5-for-6 from three. The rest of the team? 10-for-45. The rim was closed, the lights were out, and the Wolves kept jacking threes.
Edwards isn’t worried, and he’s seen this movie before
This isn’t the first time Anthony Edwards has reacted like this. We’ve seen it before—like when Nikola Jokic cooked Minnesota last year, dropping 40 like it was nothing. Edwards had nothing but laughter and respect: “He’s the MVP, best player in the NBA. I don’t know what we’re supposed to do.”
Same vibe this time. OKC didn’t exactly blitz him with some new-age defensive scheme from a coaching seminar—they just defended like their lives depended on it. Jalen Williams and Lu Dort were on him like a full-court press in a Final Four game. Edwards tried to get going, but OKC’s rotations were tighter than Jimmy Butler’s braids.
Even Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who started the game like he’d left his shooting hand in the locker room (2-for-13 in the first half), caught fire in the second with 20 points after the break, finishing with 31 despite being hounded by Jaden McDaniels all night. The Timberwolves had him locked up like it was Alcatraz early on—but by the fourth, Shai was dropping daggers.
While Edwards was busy laughing off the L, Randle had a bit more of a message. “We proved that we can do it,” he said. “But we got to make it happen too.”
Translation: Yes, we’re talented. Yes, we had a great first half. But this isn’t NBA Live 2003. You don’t win by just looking good in the first two quarters. And five turnovers? Randle owned that, even though his first-half shooting had Minnesota up at halftime.
Mar 9, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) shakes hands with forward Julius Randle (30) after making a shot against the San Antonio Spurs in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
And let’s not forget: the Timberwolves were the more rested team. OKC had just come off a Game 7 slugfest with the Nuggets, barely 48 hours earlier. They should’ve been gassed. Instead, they looked like the team doing wind sprints at practice.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Edwards and Randle both confirmed there’s a new strategy for Game 2. They didn’t say much (you know how playoff poker face works), but Edwards hinted that they know what went wrong. The message? Less volume shooting, more focus on playmaking, and better defense in transition.
Randle doubled down: “We can’t just be like, alright, we did it last year… we gotta defend at a high level, especially on the road.”
And hey, at least they’re taking it seriously now. The jokes are fun, but nobody wants to be the punchline in a sweep.
So, while Timberwolves Twitter spirals and analysts start writing their eulogies for Minnesota’s playoff run, Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle are still very much in it. They’re laughing now, but they know Game 2 is where it gets real. Edwards may be unbothered, but don’t mistake that for apathy. The man’s been here before. He’s cracked jokes at MVPs and then come back swinging.
Game 2? Let’s just say the Timberwolves better bring more than chuckles—because OKC isn’t playing around anymore.
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