After the Minnesota Timberwolves fell 119-115 to the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night at Target Center, All-Star guard Anthony Edwards spoke about the team’s troubling late-game collapse. Despite scoring 35 points, including 23 in the first half, Edwards acknowledged the team lost momentum after halftime, contributing to the defeat that dropped Minnesota’s record to 32-21 in the Western Conference.
Shift in Momentum and Key Challenges in Second Half
Edwards noted the team played well through the first half but encountered issues in the third and fourth quarters.
“No, I thought we was pretty good until third quarter. Third and fourth quarter things started shifting,”
Edwards said when discussing if the offense influenced their defense. The Timberwolves held a strong 77-59 lead early in the third quarter, but New Orleans mounted a comeback through perimeter shooting and paint scoring.
The guard pointed to execution errors and missed scoring chances as factors in the late-game collapse.
“I got to go watch the film. I can’t really remember what happened. I know I missed some shots that I should have made,”
Edwards acknowledged. He also cited Trey Murphy, who hit several three-pointers in the third quarter, as a key contributor to the shift:
“Trey Murphy hit about four threes, I think, in the third. Kind of changed the game around.”
The Timberwolves managed only 45 points in the second half and struggled to counter the Pelicans’ defensive adjustments. Edwards commented on New Orleans’ unconventional defense, saying,
“I think they played like some I don’t know what they was in. Yeah. I don’t know if it was like two three or I don’t know what the hell they was playing but yeah it was in some weird defense.”
Zion Williamson’s Dominance and Its Impact on Minnesota’s Defense
The Pelicans’ Zion Williamson created additional problems inside, scoring 29 points on an efficient 11-for-13 shooting performance. Edwards praised Williamson’s physicality and athleticism as difficult to defend:
“I think he a tough matchup for everybody. I mean, he’s just strong, athletic, fast, quick. Yeah, I mean, he’s just he’s hard to stop.”
Furthermore, foul trouble for Jaden McDaniels forced Minnesota to alter its defensive assignments, which Edwards explained affected the entire team’s cohesion.
“Changes everything. Yeah. Changed the whole team,”
he said.
Credit to Pelicans and Reflection on Protecting Leads
Despite the frustration over surrendering another game in the final stages, Edwards gave credit to New Orleans for capitalizing on their opportunities. When asked about the Timberwolves’ recurring struggles to maintain leads, he responded simply,
“I don’t know. I mean, they won the game. Good job by the Pelicans.”
New Addition Ayo Dosunmu Brings Defensive Promise
The loss came amid a busy period of roster changes league-wide, including Minnesota’s recent signing of Ayo Dosunmu. Edwards praised Dosunmu’s defensive capabilities and basketball IQ, which he believes will strengthen the Timberwolves’ backcourt.
“I think he really can guard the ball really well from the previous times he had to guard me,”
Edwards said.
“Feel like he just know how to play next action next action basketball and that’s something that we need.”
Edwards further described Dosunmu’s defensive style, emphasizing his discipline and length:
“He’s super long. He’s not real like jumpy. He don’t really jump at moves or pump fakes and stuff. He stay down, make you make tough shots over him.”
Focus Shifts Quickly Toward Upcoming Challenges
Recognizing the tightening playoff race in the Western Conference, Edwards stressed the importance of moving on without dwelling on the recent defeat.
“Yeah. Yeah, I mean, of course. Yeah, this one hurt, but we can’t dwell on it too bad. Game over. We got another game coming up,”
he said, reflecting a sense of urgency to regroup and improve in the next matchup.
