Rudy Gobert’s pre-game comments about “passing the ball” overshadowed tonight’s game. It was a subtle, lighthearted dig at Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle, who’ve been selfish on offense, as their game has always been. However, the former’s 41-point record-tying performance against a struggling 23-37 Grizzlies team proves he deserves the limelight and all the smoke that comes along with it, too. Edwards is now tied with Luka Doncic on a certain streak, with whom he shares a competitive history.
In a dominant performance this evening, Edwards dropped 41 points, six rebounds, five steals, and two assists to almost single-handedly take down the Grizzlies on home soil, and in doing so matched Luka Doncic’s record of nine 40-point games this season.
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Edwards also joined elite company alongside Los Angeles Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard, Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown, Detroit Pistons’ Cade Cunningham, and Doncic as the only players to score 40+ points and grab five steals in the same game this season, according to ESPN.
Edwards started hot in the first quarter, quickly grabbing 12 points in nine minutes. He finished the first half with 21 points. He resumed steadily in the third quarter with seven points but exploded in the final 15 minutes, dropping 13 points to seal the game and equal Doncic’s tally.
Doncic’s last 40-pointer came when he scored 41 in 39 minutes in the 110-113 loss to the Phoenix Suns on February 26 in Arizona. Before that, the Slovenian also had a 46-point haul in the 129-118 win over the Chicago Bulls in January. The Slovenian’s nine such games account for 18.8% of his 48 contests this season.
Both Doncic and Edwards remain in firm contention for the NBA MVP title but trail behind the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic, ‘underdog’ Cunningham, and San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama on the ladder.
May 28, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) speaks to Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) during the fourth quarter of game four of the western conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
This is not the first time Doncic and Edwards have made the same headline. Both are franchise stars known to bring a fiery dynamic to the court. In the previous playoffs, Edwards also didn’t hesitate to taunt Doncic with the Spider-Man web celebration after hitting a three-pointer. The Timberwolves went on to win that series, and jabs like those serve as motivation for the 24-year-old, one of which he took very seriously today.
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Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle combine to silence Rudy Gobert
Anthony Edwards’ display tonight was enough to justify why he deserves more of the ball, especially in clutch moments of the game. Three-time All-Star Julius Randle also showed why he deserves more offensive responsibility. The former New York Knicks player scored 23 points and dished 4 assists, adding 11 total rebounds against the Grizzlies. He also had five turnovers, an area he definitely needs to work on moving forward.
In stark contrast, Gobert had five points and 12 rebounds tonight, which makes his pre-game comments a bit of a ‘head scratcher’. Either way, head coach Chris Finch anticipates that the addition of veteran Kyle Anderson will ease tension in the locker room and on the court, as calmer heads prevail.
Finch also praised Edwards for “making the right decisions” and pulling off yet another clutch performance tonight despite getting double-teamed.
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The Timberwolves (39-23) are currently fourth in the West, and Tuesday’s win makes it four in a row, but that could change in the coming weeks thanks to a super-crowded conference. All eyes remain on Edwards as they mount another deep playoff run.