After a tightly contested first half, things unraveled quickly for the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder showcased why they’re considered one of the best defensive teams of the modern NBA era, putting on a clinic Tuesday night.
Anthony Edwards led the way for Minnesota early, but the Thunder clamped down in the second half, neutralizing his impact. Edwards was held scoreless in the fourth quarter as Oklahoma City surged ahead and secured the Game 1 win.
After the game in which the All-NBA lock finished with just 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting Anthony Edwards didn’t mince words. “I definitely need to shoot more,” he said. “I only took 13 f***ing shots.” On Wednesday, the NBA fined Edwards \$50,000 for using profane language in his postgame comments.
“Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards has been fined \$50,000 for using profane language during a media interview,” the NBA announced in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), citing League Operations President Byron Spruell.
Edwards is known for his candid postgame remarks, win or lose, so it came as no surprise to hear him speak so bluntly about his performance. While his honesty resonated with fans, it ultimately came at a steep price — a hefty fine heading into Game 2, where he’ll look to help the Timberwolves even the server.
Regardless of how his comments came across, Timberwolves fans will be hoping Anthony Edwards takes his own message to heart heading into Game 2. The Thunder boast the NBA’s top defense and made life difficult for the Minnesota star in Game 1, but Edwards has the talent to get to his spots and create his own shot at will. If the Timberwolves hope to compete in this series and pull off the upset, their franchise cornerstone must be more aggressive attacking the rim consistently to put pressure on Oklahoma City’s defense and open up the offense.
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