Anthony Edwards torches Heat, scores 45 points

It wasn’t the best game for Anthony Edwards, but he got to the line really well. The Timberwolves struggled in a 22 point loss to the Pistons. Edwards should bounce back and still be a target in the first round of redraft leagues.

The partnership between Edwards and LaMelo Ball (10 points, three rebounds, seven assists, one block and one three-pointer) has looked good in the preseason. The Timberwolves clearly prioritized getting a playmaker to share the court with Ant-Man, and Ball fits the mold. There will likely be some growing pains once the results count, but this should be another big year for Edwards. He has a first-round ADP in 12-team leagues, and that’s fair.

After going 1-for-7 from long range in his preseason debut against the Bucks earlier this week, Edwards rebounded to knock down 4-of-5 from three-point range, while also getting to the charity stripe for six free throw attempts as he put on a show with 19 first-half points. One of the most electrifying talents in the entire league, Edwards remains the straw that stirs the drink in Minnesota, even as things are going to look a bit different with sharpshooting playmaker LaMelo Ball taking over at point guard. He’ll be a first-round pick in all fantasy drafts this fall.

Making his unofficial Timberwolves debut, Ball played 17 minutes in the first half in Milwaukee. While you can’t take too much from one game, he played efficiently and committed just one turnover. Combining Ball with Anthony Edwards (14 points, four rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one three-pointer) gives Minnesota a backcourt that’s far more dangerous off the dribble than last year’s group. And an efficient Ball can be one of the most effective point guards in fantasy basketball, regardless of league format.

Edwards put together another excellent season in 2025-26, averaging a career-high 28.8 points per game while also putting up 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.7 blocks and 3.4 three-pointers. However, Finch believes that the Timberwolves may have done their star guard a “disservice” by playing him on the ball so much. With Mike Conley’s limited production and fellow starter Donte DiVincenzo not being a point guard, the circumstances put Minnesota in a position where the ball needed to be in Edwards’ hands more. However, that approach eventually caught up to them, as San Antonio was able to overload its defense in a second-round series that ended in six games. With LaMelo Ball now in the fold, Edwards is going to spend most of his time playing off the ball, which should allow him more opportunities to play downhill.

Windhorst, appearing on the Hoop Collective podcast, wondered aloud about what Edwards might be thinking in the aftermath of Giannis Antetokounmpo being traded to the Heat as well as the Timberwolves trading Julius Randle in a salary dump. Windhorst said Edwards has been frustrated with how he’s double teamed by opponents since Minnesota trade Karl Anthony-Towns two years ago. The Timberwolves have to add more offense this offseason to alleviate some of that burden on Edwards. While no trade is imminent, don’t expect Edwards to have a shortage of suitors if he eventually requests a trade.

Edwards led the Timberwolves in scoring in Friday’s series finale, but efficiency was an issue. The Timberwolves’ star shot 7-of-19 from inside the arc in Game 6 while also enduring some struggles at the foul line. Add in Edwards recording just two assists, and this was a disappointing end to the season. Given the knee issues that he endured late in the season, getting rested and healthy will be the priority for Edwards this offseason. He’s likely to come off the board in the latter stages of the first round in fantasy drafts next fall, be it category or points leagues.

Edwards and the Timberwolves were seemingly knocked back on their heels from the start, as Victor Wembanyama took over during the first quarter. Minnesota did rally on multiple occasions, but the lack of consistent help for Edwards proved costly. Ant-Man clearly isn’t healthy, but he continues to log heavy minutes, playing 40 in Game 5. Given what will be on the line in Game 6 on Friday, with a loss meaning the end of the Timberwolves’ season, Edwards is going to log heavy minutes once again.

Even with Victor Wembanyama being ejected during the second quarter, the Timberwolves found themselves in a dogfight throughout Game 4. As superstars are expected to do, Edwards stepped up when his team needed him most. The Timberwolves’ guard scored 16 points in the fourth quarter, helping Minnesota pull even at two games apiece. Edwards logged 40 minutes in Game 4, and that may be his floor for the rest of this series. Game 5 is on Tuesday in San Antonio.

Limited to 25 minutes in Games 1 and 2, Edwards was under no restrictions for Game 3. He still isn’t playing at full strength, but the Timberwolves star managed to log 41 minutes on Friday. And Edwards was highly productive, becoming the second player in franchise history to record at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a playoff game. Terrence Shannon Jr., who started the first two games for Edwards, played 28 minutes in Game 3, finishing with five points, two rebounds, two assists and one three-pointer. The Timberwolves will look to even the series at two games apiece on Sunday night.