Leaked audio reveals Anthony Edwards' confidence ahead of 11-point comeback in Game 7 - 'I’m Finna Get in My Bag'
Anthony Edwards rallied after a sluggish start on Sunday night. He propelled the Minnesota Timberwolves to a remarkable comeback from a 20-point second-half deficit to oust the reigning NBA title-holders, the Denver Nuggets, with a 98-90 victory in a Game 7 spectacle in Minnesota.
The Timberwolves staged a remarkable turnaround, erasing a 15-point halftime deficit, marking the largest comeback in NBA playoff Game 7 history.
Anthony Edwards, who only contributed four points, no rebounds and three assists in the first half, emerged as a pivotal figure, concluding the game with 16 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
During the game, footage surfaced of Anthony Edwards where he could be seen talking on the bench to one of the assistant coaches, exhibiting confidence despite the slow start:
“I’m finna get in my bag.”
He ended the game with 6-of-24 shooting, including a 2-for-10 3-point shooting night.
Anthony Edwards and Minnesota Timberwolves dominate in the second half
The Nuggets joined a group of five consecutive defending champions who faltered in their quest to reach the conference finals.
Powered by Jamal Murray's 24 first-half points, Denver surged to a commanding 53-38 lead at halftime, with Murray extending the gap to 58-38 with a crucial 3-pointer at 10:50 remaining in the third quarter.
The Timberwolves relied on their robust defense, widely recognized as the NBA's meanest, to mount a comeback. They concluded the third quarter with an impressive 28-9 run, narrowing the deficit to a single point at 67-66 as they entered the final quarter.
Rudy Gobert initiated a momentum shift for the Wolves by securing a basket at the outset of the fourth quarter, granting them their first lead since the opening quarter.
As Karl-Anthony Towns incurred his fifth foul, Naz Reid, distinguished as the NBA Sixth Man of the Year, showcased brilliance on both offense and defense, ensuring that Minnesota maintained its lead.
In a pivotal sequence commencing with Minnesota leading 85-82, Reid capitalized with two successful free throws and a resounding dunk.
He then facilitated a crucial 3-pointer for Anthony Edwards, extending the Wolves' advantage to 92-82 with three minutes remaining, effectively cementing their lead.
Murray, rebounding from a challenging 4-for-18 shooting performance in the Nuggets' 115-70 defeat in Game 6, which stands as the largest playoff loss by a reigning champion, showcased resilience by leading Denver with an impressive 35 points. Jokic complemented Murray with a stellar performance, contributing 34 points, 19 rebounds and seven assists, but it wasn't enough.
For the Timberwolves, it marked their first Game 7 since their victory over Sacramento in the second round two decades earlier. Remarkably, that remains the sole occasion they advanced to the conference finals.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets entered their fifth Game 7 in the last six seasons, aiming for their third conference finals appearance, but they fell short.