Memphis, Tenn. - Anthony Edwards dazzled in his post-season debut, and Karl-Anthony Towns turned in an impressive bounce-back game as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Memphis Grizzlies 130-117 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Saturday defeated by ,
"We did a great job playing our game, the Timberwolves basketball," Towns said. "It was a team victory. It happened because we all came today with one goal in mind, and that was winning. I thought we had won a lot of basketballs. We've done a lot of little things to win. We should be very proud of our performance."
1 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, according to ESPN Stats and Information Research, Edwards scored 36 points to become the third-youngest player with more than 35 points in a playoff game, behind only Derrick Rose and Tyler Harrow. Edwards took his damage from across the court, fired four shots from beyond the arc, made three baskets on the rim, and converted 8 of 8 free throw attempts into one of the more auspicious coming-of-age parties in recent NBA history.
"I told [teammate Taurean Prince] that I treat every sport the same," Edwards said. "I didn't feel any different — like a regular season game to me."
Towns, who struggled off the ground and suffered a foul in Minnesota's play-in win over the LA Clippers on Tuesday night, reversed his fortunes with a 29-point, 13-rebound performance. He dominated Memphis center Steven Adams, scoring on 9 of his 11 attempts against the grizzlies' legendary big man. This was in stark contrast to Towne's choppy effort in Minneapolis.
"I'm pleased with tonight's performance," Towns said. "I really feel like that's what I should be doing. It shouldn't be something that we should be celebrating, like, 'Oh, you got a chance to play a really good game at the national level. You really should be Proud and excited. I have to do that."
In his post-game remarks, Towns emphasized Edwards' exceptional shot-making, ability to hit hard attempts against tight defenses. On Saturday, eight of Edwards' 12 scored field goals were countered by Memphis defenders.
"He's not going to get an easy shot," Towns said. "For him to be able to take multiple dribbles in the playoffs and still get in his place and make a shot, that's something special. Because once you're in the playoffs, it's usually one-on-one dribble drives. away, and he's still finding ways to get there. He's a special talent."
According to Second Spectrum, Edwards' shot probability – which measures the likelihood that an attempt will be successful – was the lowest of the eight players in the game who attempted more than 10 field goals. Yet he ended up with a healthy effective area target percentage of 56%.
Well aware of his reputation for challenging, sometimes low-percentage efforts, Edwards quipped that he was fairly satisfied with his regimen of shots.
"I love my shots," Edwards said. "Whatever shot I take, whether it's a step-back trey-ball or a step-back midrange or floater or layup — whatever my shot is — I love it. Sometimes, [Timberwolves coach Chris Finch] doesn't like Can do. It, but I love my shot. I just believe in myself."
The Timberwolves also count on Edwards, as the long-suffering Minnesota franchise leads 1-0 to win the playoff series for the first time since 2004.
"When he's playing basketball at such a level, he's almost invincible," Towns said of Edwards before correcting himself. "He's invincible, really."