Timberwolves coach challenges Anthony Edwards after Game 1 loss
The Minnesota Timberwolves had a night to forget Tuesday, and head coach Chris Finch didn’t hide his frustration after the game.
The Minnesota Timberwolves had a night to forget Tuesday, and head coach Chris Finch didn’t hide his frustration after the game.
Especially with his top player.
The Timberwolves lost Game 1 of their second-round series against the Golden State Warriors 99-88 on Tuesday, even with Steph Curry leaving the game injured. They missed their first 16 shots from three-point range and finished the game shooting a lowly 17.2 per cent from behind the arc.
Finch said his team, specifically superstar Anthony Edwards, mentally struggled from its poor shooting start and knows playoff wins won’t come if that happens.
“We can’t have that, and it starts with Ant,” Finch said post-game. “He struggled early, and then you could just kind of see the light go out a little bit for a while.
“… You’re the leader of the team. You have to come out and set the tone. If your shot’s not falling, you still have to carry the energy.”
Edwards finished the Game 1 loss shooting just 9-of-22 from the field and 1-of-5 from three.
It was a far cry from his performance in Minnesota’s five-game series win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Round 1, where the 23-year-old Edwards averaged 26.8 points, 8.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists a game.
After Finch’s challenge, Edwards’ statline will be something to watch for in Game 2 on Thursday.
