Anthony Edwards outduels Nikola Jokic as Wolves take Game 1

Anthony Edwards outduels Nikola Jokic as Wolves take Game 1

DENVER -- If you inquired another youthful star what it felt like to go into the guarding champs' building and put up a career playoff-high 43 focuses in a 106-99 Amusement 1 win to tip off the moment circular, he might call it a explanation performance.

If he was truly feeling himself, he might say Saturday night spoken to a seismic move in the adjust of control in the Western Conference with the Minnesota Timberwolves taking domestic court absent from the Denver Nuggets.

However, Anthony Edwards isn't like any other youthful star nowadays. He might not be like any other youthful star in alliance history.

"It's not almost presenting ourselves to no one. We know who we are," Edwards said when inquired around Minnesota playing past the to begin with circular of the playoffs for the to begin with time in two decades. "We're coming out and as long as we got each other's backs, it do not truly matter what anyone else thinks."

Edwards clowned that he might not indeed have been born when Kevin Garnett and the Wolves beat the Sacramento Rulers in the moment circular in 2004 to make the as it were conference finals appearance in establishment history.

Whatever past misfortunes that Wolves have had in the postseason, the current group is having a minute. It's presently 5-0 in the playoffs, counting a clear of the Phoenix Suns in the to begin with circular, with Edwards joining Kobe Bryant as the as it were other player in NBA postseason history with successive 40-point exhibitions at age 22 or more youthful, concurring to ESPN Stats & Data research.

Edwards' 119 focuses over his past three playoff recreations are the most by a Wolves player over a three-game span in the team's postseason history. And he did it Saturday by outplaying the ruling NBA Finals MVP -- and a top-three finalist for the regular-season MVP this year -- in Nikola Jokic.

"To be fair, he's a uncommon player, I have gigantic regard for him, he can do everything on the floor," Jokic said of Edwards. "You require to deliver him regard, how great and how gifted he is."

Jokic wrapped up with 32 focuses, 9 helps, 8 bounce back and 3 takes, but he shot fair 11-for-25 from the field (2-for-9 from 3) and hacked up a game-high 7 turnovers. When inquired how he may be way better against the Wolves' three-headed front line of Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid in Amusement 2, Jokic jested he would require to "have a copy clone of myself."

Edwards, in the mean time, shot 17-for-29 with 7 bounce back, 3 helps, 1 take, 2 pieces and fair 1 turnover. Indeed more momentous, he shot 7-for-10 on intensely challenged bounce shots in Amusement 1, concurring to Moment Range. This postseason, he's shooting 53% on intensely challenged jumpers, the best in the NBA.

Despite the difference in generation between the two stars, Edwards still conceded to the rival, whereas giving credit to his colleagues for the outcome.

"Going against the best player in the world is continuously fun, going against the best group in the world is continuously fun," Edwards said. "Our folks came out and competed today evening time. So, it's not approximately me actually, it's around my group. They allow me certainty also."

Edwards was culminate from the field to begin things off, going 5-for-5 amid the Wolves' 18-4 run in the to begin with seven minutes of the to begin with quarter. The Chunks combat back to take a 44-40 lead by halftime, holding each Minnesota player other than Edwards to fair 6-for-27 shooting (22.2%). The Wolves pushed back ahead in the third whereas Edwards said he "didn't do anything" and "was fair out there running up and down" whereas Towns went 5-for-5 to score 11 of his 20 focuses and Mike Conley went 4-for-4 to score 11 of his 14.

The fourth had a place to Edwards and Reid, the NBA's 6th Man of the Year. Edwards, who was held scoreless in the fourth quarter in both of the Wolves' regular-season misfortunes to Denver, scored 12 focuses on 4-for-5 shooting to near things out. Reid scored 14 of his 16 in the fourth -- counting 10 straight for the Wolves -- to seal it.

"For a fellow like me who's seen him develop from day one to where he is presently, I think he's a genius in the making if he's not [as of now] presently," Reid said of Edwards. "He's a colossal player and a huge individual off the court. ... He's a fellow you need to be around."

And Minnesota plans to adhere around the playoffs for a whereas to come, as prove by the "11" composed in enormous dark numerals on the whiteboard in the guests locker room at Ball Field after the diversion. It speaks to the number of wins the Wolves still require to capture the to begin with championship in group history this spring.

"He's been developing each day, he's been getting more develop each single night," Gobert said of Edwards. "So it's fun to be a portion of."