Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards dribbles the ball up court against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of Game 2 of an NBA basketball Western Conference Finals playoff series Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards goes up for a basket against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the second half of Game 2 of an NBA basketball Western Conference Finals playoff series Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, top, goes up for a basket agains Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22), forward Chet Holmgren (7) and guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the first half of Game 2 of an NBA basketball Western Conference Finals playoff series Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) chats with referee Pat Fraher (26) during the first half of Game 2 of an NBA basketball Western Conference Finals playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards dribbles the ball up court against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of Game 2 of an NBA basketball Western Conference Finals playoff series Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) 鈥 Anthony Edwards vowed to be more aggressive.
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ All-Star guard was held to 18 points on 13 shots in a in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.
He took twice as many shots in Game 2, but the result was similar. Despite his 32 points, the on Thursday night to take a 2-0 series lead.
The Thunder rotated several defenders on Edwards 鈥 primarily Lu Dort, who was named to the on Thursday 鈥 and Alex Caruso, who was All-Defensive first team two years ago and second team last season. Edwards made 12 of 26 field goals and 7 of 10 free throws.
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鈥淚 thought the guys did a great job tonight,鈥 Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. 鈥淓dwards was much more. ... he was loosened up tonight. I thought a lot of that was the way they were playing. And they (the Thunder guards) really took on the challenge with him. And he really had to earn everything he got. For the most part, nothing came easy for him.鈥
Edwards, who was during his postgame interview after Game 1, didn鈥檛 bother talking to the media at all after Game 2.
It might have been out of frustration. He missed some time with an ankle injury in Game 1, and it appeared to carry over to Game 2. He wasn鈥檛 his usual explosive self, settling for layups in a few situations when he would normally have dunked. He still got to the basket often, but he never really seemed comfortable.
His teammates couldn鈥檛 get going. The Timberwolves shot 41.4% from the field and made just 11 of 39 3-pointers.
鈥淭hese are open shots,鈥 Minnesota鈥檚 Nickeil Alexander-Walker said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e open shots. We鈥檝e got to make open shots. And I think that we will.鈥
Julius Randle, who scored 28 points in the opener, finished with six on 2-for-11 shooting in Game 2. Alexander-Walker expects that to improve for Game 3.
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鈥淚鈥檓 not bothered,鈥 Alexander-Walker said. 鈥淚鈥檓 not going to bat an eye at it. I know Julius, I know he鈥檚 going to come in and work. I know that as a competitor, his blood鈥檚 boiling and he鈥檚 going to come back next game ready to go.鈥
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