It was a remarkable return for Anthony Edwards in Monday’s Game 1 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Nobody expected him back so soon after he suffered a bone bruise and hyperextended left knee during Game 4 of the opening round. There’s a reason that he’s referred to as ‘Wolverine,’ though, as Ant-Man continues to show he’s a quick healer.
Coming off the bench to play 25 minutes in the Game 1 win, Edwards scored an efficient 18 points on 8-for-13 shooting (2-for-3 from beyond the arc). Even after his triumphant return, Ant spoke after the game about how he needs to do better.
“I made so many mistakes at the end of the game. I’m disappointed in myself," Edwards said. He elaborated by saying: "For me, 75 percent of the game is my mind, my mind gotta be where it needs to be, and in the last two minutes of the game, it wasn't. I gave up two offensive rebounds, turned the ball over, yeah, I'll be better."
To have that mindset after an upset victory in which Edwards unexpectedly returned should put some fear into the Spurs and the rest of the teams still hanging around in the postseason. Ant-Man strives for greatness, and he’s always looking to show improvement.
Ant-Man constantly wants to get better
After seeing Julian Champagnie’s game-winning 3-pointer fall short at the buzzer, Edwards and his teammates had all the reason to celebrate. It was a triumphant earlier-than-expected return for the 24-year-old superstar, and the Timberwolves now have an early 1-0 lead in the series.
To Edwards' point, though, in the last two minutes of the tight matchup, Champagnie had two putbacks off San Antonio misses. Plus, with about half a minute remaining, Edwards tried to lob an inbounds pass to Julius Randle. Instead, the pass was intercepted, and it led to a Dylan Harper dunk to cut Minnesota’s lead to two.
In all fairness, though, Ant dominated the start of the final frame, totaling 11 of his 18 points in that fourth quarter.
There’s no reason to think Ant won’t be better down the stretch, starting with Game 2, which takes place on Wednesday. Edwards was a finalist for Clutch Player of the Year this season.
For the Timberwolves, it should be seen as a positive that even after an incredible win, one in which Edwards performed quite well, he still wants to do better. However, for the Spurs, the thought that Ant is only going to level up his play and cut back on these mistakes should be terrifying.
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