Anthony Edwards gives the Timberwolves an advantage that nobody can match

The Minnesota Timberwolves were down by 25 points at halftime against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night. Rudy Gobert was sidelined with a hip injury, and Naz Reid had left the game with a shoulder injury after just five minutes. All hope appeared to be lost. I don't think anyone would have blamed the Wolves if they had lost this game by a sizable margin. The Spurs are one of the best teams in the league after all, and everyone has their off-nights, especially when dealing with injuries.

However, the Timberwolves fought back with an impressive all-around team effort and the best individual performance across the league this season. Anthony Edwards racked up a career-high 55 points, including nine 3-pointers, 39 second-half points, and 14 clutch points. The degree of difficulty on his shots was truly remarkable. He surgically dissected the defense, making impossible shots look routine.  

Minnesota may have lost the game (by three points), but Edwards' career-high 55-point outing will be the lasting memory of this game. Ant-Man gave the Wolves a chance in a game that most teams (even elite ones) would have lost handily.

And this is far from a one-off occurrence -- the Wolves have a top-three second-half net rating in the league and have mounted numerous comebacks on the heels of Ant's greatness. Plus, Edwards is shooting an absurd 71.7 percent in clutch-time situations.

No matter the deficit, the opponent, or another possible factor, Edwards gives the Wolves a legitimate chance to win every single night. Undoubtedly, this makes the Wolves an incredibly dangerous matchup for any team.

Anthony Edwards gives the Timberwolves a chance in every game

This game might be the perfect microcosm for the hope that Edwards provides the Timberwolves with on any given night. While watching Ant rack up a career-high and nearly will the Wolves to an improbable victory was impressive, this advantage will truly be impactful come playoff time.

There are few 24-year-olds in league history with the playoff resume that Edwards has. He helped guide the Wolves to two straight conference finals appearances. And both times, (especially last year), nobody expected the Wolves to reach these heights. A player of Edwards' caliber always gives you a chance to make a deep playoff run, and that's especially true this season.

Ant was always a great player. Regardless, Edwards' growth as a mid-range scorer, shot-maker, ball-handler, and decision-maker has helped him reach another level this season. This is evident by his growth as a clutch-time scorer. In a playoff setting, there might truly be no stopping Ant-Man, especially with his growth as a mid-range scorer.

I can't guarantee that the Wolves will go on to win the championship or even make another deep playoff run this season. Nevertheless, I can guarantee they'll have a chance in every single series they play in thanks to Anthony Edwards, and that's a powerful thing.