Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards join Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan with historic season-opener feat appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The new-look Minnesota Timberwolves are starting the season strong. At the time of writing, they’re on track to beat Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat. Leading the charge for the Braves is, as usual, Anthony Edwards. Even with LaMelo Ball on the team, Edwards is still the top scorer of the team, and he did exactly that in the season opener.
Edwards finished the game against the Heat with 45 points on 16-of-29 shooting, along with 10 rebounds, three assists, and two steals. This is the Timberwolves star’s second 40-point game in a season opener, according to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel. He’s now one of three players in NBA history to do that, joining Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.
The Timberwolves made major changes this offseason. A team in dire need of point guard help before this season, Minnesota swung for the fences and traded for former Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball. Despite Ball’s scoring acumen, the expectations around the league was that Edwards would still be the lead scorer for the team, with Ball focusing more on playmaking and creating opportunities for other.
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That has apparently paid off this season. Freed from the responsibilities of being the ball-handler of the offense, Edwards was free to create his own shot. The Timberwolves star was lights out from behind the arc, making nine of his 17 three-point attempts. Edwards picked up right where he left off last season, when his much-improved three-point shot propelled him to the top of the league.
The Timberwolves ended up winning the game easily, 131-106. Ball had 21 points and six assists in his debut, while returning veteran Jaden McDaniels had 17 points and eight rebounds. On the other side of the ball, Antetokounmpo had 35 points and six rebounds in his Heat debut, but no other Miami player reached 20 points. Minnesota will take on the Orlando Magic on Friday.
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