The Minnesota Timberwolves took on the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night for both teams’ 2021-22 NBA season opener. It went very well for fans of the Wolves and their budding superstar Anthony Edwards. Not so much for the Houston Rockets or their head coach Stephen Silas.
Up by 35 at one point, the T-Wolves didn’t make things easy for the Rockets. With their three stars going off combining for 81 points, the T-Pups played with a lot of electric energy that could lead to a competitive season up north.
While Karl-Anthony Towns led the way with 30 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks, it was Ant who stole the show.
Early in the game, Edwards set the tone, slamming down one of his signature dunks to give the Twin Cities home crowd a show.
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But that was pretty typical behavior from A1, it was the six three-pointers that should have defenses on notice. Feeling himself, after hitting a 26′ 3-point shot just before the half to send the Wolves up by 29, Edwards had some instructions for the Houston Rockets coach Stephen Silas.
Hard not to love that confidence from Ant-Man. The shot was Ant’s second consecutive made three, giving him 24 points before halftime.
Of course, with just 40.8 seconds remaining on the game clock in the second quarter, Silas wisely avoided the second-year pro’s suggestion to call a timeout. Still, it was yet another great moment from the lovable Anthony Edwards.
Though he plays in a small market, it won’t be long before A1 is generating some serious buzz, especially if the Wolves can win at a more frequent rate than they have in the recent past. Scoring 29 points with six rebounds in a convincing victory, even though it was the Rockets, is a nice way to get started.
Edwards looks well on his way to becoming this pack’s alpha wolf. While some pre-draft concerns surrounded his shooting ability and defensive effort, those questions are no longer being asked.
The now 6-foot-6 Edwards is playing with authority. Maybe this Wolves team really is different. Either way, it figures to be an exciting year watching the Timberwolves play together. Who needs Ben Simmons?