The Minnesota Timberwolves have surprised everyone by dominating the LA Lakers in this intense series. Anthony Edwards and the Wolves punched back and took a 2-1 lead in the series after beating the Lakers 116-104 in Game 3. This was the first Game of the series at the Target Center, and the Wolves hunted down the Lakers yet again. To his usual practice, Anthony Edwards was again the star of the show against the Lakers on Friday. He finished the night with 29 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. This spectacular performance included five three-pointers as the shooting guard flirted with a triple-double. However, this incredible outing did not come without adversities.
Everyone is aware of Anthony Edwards’ explosive power. The 23-year-old Minnesota superstar has made a name for himself by making big plays in the paint, and this time it was his electrifying dunks, which we saw in Game 3. With 4:56 left on the clock in the third quarter, Edwards got the ball after stealing it from Luka Doncic’s hands. He then headed for the 3-point line, but instead of shooting one from deep, he headed for the rim. Doncic tried to contest Edwards, but was no match as he dunked on the Lakers’ point guard and gave him a mean look. This shows Ant’s dominance inside the paint. However, this didn’t go unnoticed by the opponent.
While teams like LA have not found a clear way to stop Anthony Edwards rallying to the rim, they’ve opted for another tactic. You guessed it, LA has been trying to stop Edwards by fouling him. This might make you think that the 23-year-old might have been receiving some sympathy from the officials along with a few free throws. However, it’s quite the opposite.
According to Timberwolves’ head coach, Chris Finch, the shooting guard is being wronged by the referees. “I find it hard to believe you can go that many times and not get fouled,” Finch said after Friday’s win. “But there’s a lot of bodies in there. He’s got to do a better job of finishing. There are sometimes where he’s avoiding contact rather than creating it. But each game’s different.”
Dec 21, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch talks with Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) against the Golden State Warriors in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
The Minnesota head coach expressed his frustration about calls not going Edwards’ way, despite him being the key focus. The 23-year-old had zero free throws awarded in Game 3, which adds weight to Chris Finch’s statement. This season, Edwards has been awarded only 2 free throws per game in the postseason, which is a massive drop when compared to the 6.4 free throws per game he received in last season’s playoff games. Moreover, he also pointed out that Ant’s also avoiding contact rather than creating it, which might be a reason why fouls on him are not being noticed by the referees. Additionally, Chris Finch also pointed out the Minnesota superstar’s mental state as he revealed what goes through Anthony Edwards’ head.
Chris Finch talks about Anthony Edwards’ mental state amid unjust calls from the officials
Apart from his electrifying dunks, Anthony Edwards is also well-known for his nonchalant and blunt nature. As a result of this, the 23-year-old has been fined multiple times by the league. This season alone, Edwards has been fined for over $370,000 for using profane language, throwing a basketball, and other actions not deemed fit by the NBA. Despite this, he’s done a good job of maintaining his cool when the calls haven’t gone his way in this playoff series against the Lakers. It has been a highly intense battle between the two teams in the three games. Still, he’s been solid, averaging 25.3 points along with 7.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game.
More: “I find it hard to believe you can go that many times and not get fouled. But there’s a lot of bodies in there. He’s got to do a better job of finishing. There are sometimes where he’s avoiding contact rather than creating it. But each game’s different.”
— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) April 27, 2025
He’s been so good that the Lakers are yet to figure out a way to stop him. While they were able to keep him at bay in Game 2, that didn’t last long as he came storming in Game 3. Instead, LA has decided to do it the hard way by fouling Ant. Being known for his flair, you’d expect Edwards to give in to the pressure after calls not going his way and attract technical fouls. Well, you might not be wrong, given that he leads the NBA in technical fouls received this season at 18. However, according to coach Chris Finch, he has done a good job of containing his emotions in this series.
“Well, they haven’t. He hasn’t gotten the whistle. But he’s done a really good job of managing his emotions around that.” Finch stated. The Minnesota HC pointed out that Los Angeles has yet to find a way to stop their shooting guard. Meanwhile, he also acknowledged that fouls haven’t gone Anthony Edwards’ way, but still, he’s done a great job by controlling his emotions. Instead of trying to argue with the referees or fighting with other players. The Timberwolves faithful will hope that Edwards will continue to do so as they gear up for a crucial Game 4 at the Target Center. A win in this game will be massive for Minnesota, which will then possess a 3-1 lead in the series. It will be interesting to see if Anthony Edwards can once again help his team get the better of the Lakers as we eagerly await Game 4.
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