Anthony Edwards did not celebrate with chest thumps or long speeches on Thursday night. He talked defense. Real defense. The kind that wins games in January and could matter a lot more in spring.
Minnesota’s 123 to 111 win over Oklahoma City on January 29 at Target Center pushed the Timberwolves to 30 and 19. It also showed how serious they were about slowing down one of the league’s toughest scorers, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Edwards made it clear after the game that this was not luck. It was a plan.
Anthony Edwards Revealed His Game Plan Against Oklahoma City
Speaking to reporters after the game on January 29, Edwards explained exactly what Minnesota tried to do. “I think he still had like 30 points,” Edwards said with a smile, via Zone Coverage’s Andrew Dukowitz. “Just showing him two, three bodies, making him pass to his teammates and then fanning, fanning out to other guys.”
“I think he still had like 30 points… Just showing him two, three bodies making him pass to his teammates and then fanning, fanning out to other guys.”
Anthony Edwards on gameplan against SGA 🗣️
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Ant-Man was asked if Thunder games felt a little more personal, and the sixth-year swingman had a direct response.
“Yeah, it’s super personal for me, cause they put us out last year, and they got the reigning MVP,” Edwards said bluntly.
Ant-Man’s comments align with how the night goes. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 30 points, right around his average. But the T-Wolves forced him to work for every touch. They crowded his driving lanes. They sent help early. Then they scrambled back out to the shooters. Minnesota did not let him play one-on-one in space, which is where he usually destroys teams.
Ant-Man backed up the talk with his own play. He scored 26 points and added five rebounds and five assists. Jaden McDaniels stretched the floor with 21 points and went a perfect 5 for 5 from three. Naz Reid gave them 18 off the bench. Minnesota hit 22 threes as a team. That balance made Oklahoma City pay for every extra pass.
Edwards also told the NBA on Prime crew after the game that this matchup still means something after last season’s playoff loss to the Thunder. That edge showed how locked in the T-Wolves looked on both ends.
The Thunder came in with the best record in the NBA at 38-11. They still sit near the top. But on this night, the T-Wolves controlled the terms. They did not stop Gilgeous-Alexander. Almost nobody does. They kept him awake all night, and that made the difference.
That is why Edwards’ breakdown matters. It was not trash talk. It was a blueprint.
