The end of the Timberwolves-Mavericks game Monday night was as entertaining as any game in the league this season. Dallas, on the back of Kyrie Irving’s 26 points in the fourth quarter, rallied from a massive deficit to make it a 3-point game with 14.8 seconds to play.
What happened on the final possession may represent a turning point for the Timberwolves, who despite being in the thick of the jam-packed Western Conference playoff race have gotten no attention from the national media.
Trailing 124-121, the Timberwolves could’ve fouled the Mavericks and sent them to the line to preserve the lead, but Minnesota didn’t take the easy road. They told Kyrie and Luka Doncic to bring their best.
The bold decision put the spotlight on Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels, and in the heat of the moment they showed the world how suffocating their man-to-man defense can be – locking up two of the most dynamic guards in the game and forcing a turnover to win the game.
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“Ant said play it out so I had no problem with that. We all good defenders. I feel like it was a pride thing, not needing to foul. Just try to get the stop,” said McDaniels.
“This is what me and Jaden are out here for,” Edwards said. “Put us on the best two players and see what we do.”
Minnesota fans have seen it time and time again this season. Now maybe the rest of the league will start to notice.
