Tension Mounts as Anthony Edwards Returns for Crucial Game 4
If you want drama, there’s nothing quite like the NBA Playoffs when every possession feels like it could tip the fate of a season. The Minnesota Timberwolves got a much-needed boost ahead of a make-or-break Game 4 in Minneapolis: Anthony Edwards is officially good to go. Not only is he present, but he’s healthy, listed as fully available after recent checks, and ready to lead his team onto the court at Target Center.
The importance of Edwards’ presence can’t be overstated. This isn’t just a 22-year-old with some highlight reels under his belt—he’s the engine of the Timberwolves’ playoff run. With averages of 27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game this season, opposing coaches obsess over how to keep him in check. Oklahoma City, in particular, threw a kitchen sink of defenders his way, trying anything and everything to slow him down. Despite overloaded defenses and aggressive double-teams, Edwards keeps finding angles, slashing into the paint, shooting smart, and sparking the Wolves’ offense in ways that go well beyond the box score.
Game 3 saw Minnesota flip the narrative with a statement 143-101 win. Suddenly, the Thunder’s defensive schemes didn’t seem so daunting, and it’s no surprise Edwards was right in the middle of it all. His ability to command attention not only creates scoring opportunities for himself, but also makes life easier for guys like Karl-Anthony Towns and Mike Conley Jr.—defenders get caught ball-watching, and that’s when the Timberwolves’ shooters find daylight.
Health Becomes Minnesota’s Secret Weapon
Heading into Game 4, the Minnesota Timberwolves find themselves in a rare spot compared to most playoff contenders: their entire rotation is healthy. No last-minute scratches, no nagging injuries threatening their depth. That’s a luxury most teams can only dream of this deep into the postseason.
The same can’t be said for Oklahoma City. Nikola Topic remains sidelined with a torn ACL, a blow that stretches the Thunder’s backcourt rotation and forces coach Mark Daigneault to juggle minutes among his younger players. While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to deliver for OKC, the loss of Topic tightens the margin for error on both ends of the floor. Every possession carries extra weight if the Thunder hope to keep pace with Edwards and crew, especially after Minnesota’s recent outburst.
Minnesota’s must-win mindset is real: down in the series, Game 4 offers no room for slipups. Edwards stands as the linchpin in countering Gilgeous-Alexander, whose own scoring flurries have swung momentum for the Thunder. It’s become a showdown of young stars with a trip to the NBA Finals in reach—whoever blinks first could see their season slip away in a hurry.
All signs point to a dogfight at Target Center, with Anthony Edwards once again primed to play hero and try to push the Timberwolves one step closer to a historic postseason run.
