Edwards shares what fueled dominant win over Chicago.
The Minnesota Timberwolves were expected to compete for a title this season after their run to the Western Conference Finals last year, but the team had hit a rough patch heading into Monday's game against the Chicago Bulls.
After dropping back-to-back games to the Denver Nuggets and Brooklyn Nets, Minnesota desperately needed a bounce-back performance, and that's exactly what they delivered with a convincing 136-101 rout of Chicago at the United Center.
Anthony Edwards Reveals What Drove Minnesota's Dominant Win
Before the game even started, the Timberwolves had already been through an ordeal that would test any team's patience.
Their flight to Chicago was delayed significantly, keeping them stuck on the plane for hours before they could finally take off.
According to Star Tribune reporter Chris Hine, that frustrating experience ended up being exactly what the team needed to find extra motivation.
"We was on the plane about five hours," Edwards said after the game. "We took our frustration out on them tonight."
Edwards backed up his words with an efficient performance, finishing with 23 points on 9-for-13 shooting from the field across 32 minutes of action.
The three-time All-Star also added two rebounds and four assists as Minnesota improved to 21-12 on the season, while the Bulls dropped to 15-17 with the loss.
Naz Reid Steals the Show Off the Bench
While Edwards was his usual productive self, it was Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid who truly stole the spotlight on Monday night.
The big man came off the bench and erupted for a season-high 33 points on 11-for-18 shooting, including six three-pointers, while adding seven rebounds and three assists.
The Wolves trailed after the first quarter but started making shots in the second, and they never looked back from there.
Minnesota shot 54 percent for the evening and outscored Chicago 81-51 in the second half to turn a competitive game into a blowout.
The Bulls' night went from bad to worse when both starting guards Coby White and Josh Giddey left the game due to injuries, leaving Chicago without their top offensive options.
Looking Ahead for Edwards and the Timberwolves
Edwards has been putting together another stellar season for Minnesota, averaging 29.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game heading into the matchup.
Even after some inconsistent team performances, the 24-year-old superstar remains focused on what matters most.
"I mean, it's one game, so hopefully we can carry that over to the next game, too," Edwards added.
After losing to Brooklyn at home on Saturday in a game Edwards described as "Timberwolves basketball" due to the lack of energy, the response against Chicago was exactly what the team needed.
Minnesota's victory snapped their two-game losing streak and got them back on track as they look to solidify their position in the Western Conference standings.
The Timberwolves will look to build on this momentum when they host the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, while the Bulls will try to regroup after suffering one of their most lopsided losses of the season.