PHOENIX – Even within the again hallways of Footprint Heart, the chanting got here by way of loud and clear.
“M-V-P. M-V-P.”
Amid that backing refrain from visiting Timberwolves followers, Anthony Edwards made his method from the ground, the place he obtained congratulations from his childhood hero Kevin Durant, to the Wolves locker room after the crew received its first playoff sequence since 2004 with a 122-116 Recreation 4 victory over the Suns on Sunday evening.
Edwards slapped a number of individuals excessive fives after which met Karl-Anthony Cities, who walked with him into the locker room. Later, they sat side-by-side for his or her postgame media obligations: Edwards the younger budding celebrity who took down his hero for his playoff sequence victory, and Cities, who lastly noticed his years of loyalty to the group repay.
“I could not be happier,” Cities stated. “I could not be happier, one about getting a win, lastly getting the monkey off my again about getting by way of the primary spherical. Taking part in with my man on my proper, it makes it extra particular, to have the ability to do it with somebody I bought a lot admiration for, a lot respect for.”
Earlier than they went to the locker room, the remainder of the crew had piled in after visiting coach Chris Finch in a close-by medical room. Finch celebrated his first sequence victory as head coach whereas nursing what the crew stated was a torn proper patellar tendon rupture he suffered after level guard Mike Conley collided with him late within the fourth quarter.
“He did not wish to see me at first,” Conley stated. “I walked in and he began to run away. He simply tried to shoo me away.”
Within the locker room, there wasn’t any champagne or every other celebratory beverage, however somewhat particular person butter truffles and a big bucket of ice cream. On a white board, there was the quantity 12, to indicate what number of wins the Wolves have left to win a title, together with a poorly drawn broom. The Wolves will play the winner of the Nuggets-Lakers sequence within the second spherical; that sequence will begin Saturday in Denver if the Nuggets win Monday evening, in any other case it can begin Might 6.
The Wolves weren’t going to put aside 20 consecutive years with out a playoff sequence win the simple method. It was going to be onerous, even after it appeared they’d demoralized Phoenix within the first three video games of the sequence. There was an excessive amount of satisfaction in gamers like Durant, who had 33 factors, and Devin Booker, who had 49. The Suns hardly performed like a crew that had given up, and so they nonetheless did not have sufficient to beat the Wolves.
That is as a result of Edwards delivered a efficiency that can go down in franchise historical past with 40 factors, 31 of which got here within the second half.
“I am so impressed with Ant,” Durant stated. “My favourite participant to observe. Simply grown a lot since he got here into the league. His love for the sport shines brilliant. … Love all the pieces about Ant. Every part.”
He buried seven of 13 three-point makes an attempt. He dazzled a hostile crowd, taking its breath away every time he soared to the rim for a number of dunks within the fourth quarter. Edwards has been inconsistent all through his profession and this season in the case of late-game offense. That wasn’t the case in any respect Sunday.
“I used to be simply ultra-aggressive, man,” Edwards stated. “The primary half, I bought all my teammates concerned and that was just about the sport plan. Get all people concerned and the second half, it is time to win at that time.”
Edwards had 16 factors within the fourth quarter. He broke a 107-107 tie with a three-pointer from the left nook with 4 minutes, 13 seconds to play. The Wolves by no means trailed once more. Edwards had assist Sunday from Cities, who performed his greatest sport of the sequence with 28 factors and 10 rebounds. Edwards, with Cities sitting subsequent to him, was blunt when giving his ideas why Cities performed in addition to he did: Cities lastly stayed out of foul bother for the primary time this sequence.
“I am like, KAT, we not going to win Recreation 4 when you hold fouling and you retain fouling,” Edwards stated. “… Like I at all times let you know, he is the very best offensive participant on the crew. If he isn’t in foul bother, it is an issue for any crew that bought to protect us as a result of … he can do all the pieces. We simply bought to maintain him from getting in foul bother and he is gonna be nice each evening.”
The Wolves overcame a chilly capturing first half, after they shot simply 38% and had been down 61-56 at halftime.
Edwards was 2-for-8 and Cities was the one factor going offensively with 15 factors.
However with Rudy Gobert battling foul bother within the second half, the Wolves needed to hold tempo on the scoreboard with the Suns for the primary time this sequence. Edwards and Cities rose to the event with 15 factors and 11 factors within the third quarter, respectively.
Then the Wolves thrived in an emotional fourth quarter. They answered each Phoenix punch and did not get too emotional with the officiating, particularly as Booker went to the free-throw line 21 instances.
Jaden McDaniels pitched in 18 factors, together with a key three to place the Wolves up 4 with 3:25 to play. Then Edwards flew down the lane and thru the air for a dunk with 2:14 to play, and that second appeared to sign the tip, even when there was nonetheless numerous sport left.
Rather a lot occurred in that point, like Finch needing assist up and off the ground after Conley collided with him with 1:41 left. Assistant Micah Nori took over on the sideline afterward.
“I used to be mad as hell. I used to be mad,” Edwards stated about that sequence. “… However we needed to end the sport, win the sport. However for positive I used to be mad as hell.”
BOXSCORE: Wolves 122, Phoenix 116
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After the sport, Finch was carted out of Footprint Heart and as he was, he handed by Edwards and his family and friends. They exchanged a number of fast phrases as Finch informed him to get dwelling secure.
Their relationship has been a giant cause why the Wolves are the place they’re now, and it was one Edwards stated took a while to develop.
“Imma be trustworthy. At first it was like, up and down,” Edwards stated of his relationship with Finch. “He don’t desire me doing this. He need me to do that. We combating. Which is sort of a common coach-player relationship. … However most likely the tip of my second yr, going into these playoffs, we gained one another’s belief. We took off ever since then.”
Now they are going to see simply how far they will go.