Game 2 of the Minnesota Timberwolves-Denver Nuggets series may be underway, but it seems like Magic Johnson hasn't gotten over the opening clash yet. Posting on X (Twitter) hours ago, Johnson raved about Anthony Edwards' 43-point outing this past Saturday.
“If you missed the Timberwolves' victory over the Nuggets, you missed Anthony Edwards' exciting and dominate 43-point performance,” Johnson tweeted. “He put on an amazing show, scoring from everywhere on the court — the three-point line, mid-range, and taking it to the basket in the paint…he was simply unstoppable. As a team, the Timberwolves have been outstanding, with four guys finishing in double-figure scoring including the unsung hero Naz Reid (who was) coming off the bench to add 16 points.”
Johnson's awe of the Timberwolves' showing is understandable. After all, being able to defeat Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets is no easy task. Additionally, anyone who's watched Game 1 would agree to what Magic just said about Edwards.
The Timberwolves guard could not be contained. No matter who the Nuggets assigned as defender — Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Aaron Gordon, or anyone else — it didn't matter. Whether he was attacking the rim or attempting those tough fadeaway jumpers, Edwards found a way to put the ball in the basket.
Johnson also mentioned Naz Reid, who was key to that fourth-quarter run that put the Timberwolves ahead for good. With 6:24 remaining in the game, the score was tied at 84 apiece. Reid then scored 10 straight points in a span of over two minutes, and the momentum was continued by Rudy Gobert and Edwards.
The game was eventually sealed by a coast-to-coast layup from Antman with 28 seconds left.
More on the Timberwolves and the Nuggets' series opener
As both teams currently duke it out in Game 2, it'll be interesting to see how it all plays out. The Nuggets may have two stars in Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, but size has been an advantage for the Timberwolves so far.
Jokic finished Game 1 with 32 points, but he had to work for every basket and it took him quite the number of attempts. The Joker was 11-of-25 (44%) from the field, and he struggled from downtown by making just two out of his nine three-point attempts. With the Timberwolves' gigantic frontline of Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns, scoring in the paint will arguably be difficult for Jokic throughout the entire series.
Minnesota's size can also be seen in how Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, who averages 13.9 points and 6.5 rebounds a game, was held down to just nine points and three rebounds in Game 1. And speaking of boards, the Timberwolves outrebounded the Nuggets 42-34.
However, it can be noted that Gobert isn't present for Game 2.
As for Murray, he went 0-of-5 in the first half of Game 1, and that was due to the hounding defense of Jaden McDaniels. A 6-foot-9 athletic forward, McDaniels was the main reason why Murray shot just 42.9% from the floor.
The Timberwolves can score. They can rebound. They can defend and intimidate with their size. Based on what was shown in Game 1, they might just have a chance to dethrone the defending champions.
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