A great season keeps getting better for Anthony Edwards.
The Minnesota Timberwolves superstar will try to maintain his hot streak when his team tips off against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves, who have not lost since Feb. 22 against the Philadelphia 76ers, will go for their fifth consecutive win.
Edwards has been a huge part of Minnesota’s recent success. He is coming off a 41-point performance in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night, which marked his ninth game this season with at least 40 points.
In a postgame interview on the court, Edwards told the home crowd how he was feeling.
“This is the most fun I’ve ever had in my life,” Edwards said, drawing another round of cheers. “So I appreciate you guys, and I love the (state) of Minnesota.”
Edwards and the Timberwolves will take on a Raptors squad that is looking to snap out of a funk. Toronto has lost three of its past four games, including a 111-95 loss at home against the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.
Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley said the team needed to show that it could compete better against opponents with winning records.
“It’s definitely frustrating,” Quickley said. “Some of the stuff that happens (against winning teams) has nothing to do with Xs and Os, but it’s about being tougher.
“Last game (against the Knicks), we were up 12. This game, we were down two with three minutes to go. So I wouldn’t say the separation is so far. Learning how to close games is something that they’re doing well now, and we’re not doing well enough.”
Toronto will face another challenge against Minnesota. Edwards has taken another step in close and late games, and he leads the team with 29.7 points per game on 49.4% shooting.
Julius Randle is second on the Timberwolves with 21.5 points per game on 48.3% shooting, and Jaden McDaniels is third with 15.2 points per contest on 52.5% shooting.
Edwards said Randle has played a key role in the Timberwolves’ recent success. Edwards praised Randle after a 23-point, 11-rebound effort in the win over Memphis.
“We need that from him,” Edwards said. “He knows, but we need everything from him — scoring the ball, passing the ball, rebounding, defense, talking. We need everything from him. He knows the type of player that we need him to be in order for us to get where we want to go.”
For Toronto, Brandon Ingram is the team’s top scorer with 22.0 points per game on 47.4% shooting. Scottie Barnes is close behind with 19.0 points per game on 50.1% shooting.
This is the second and final game between the Timberwolves and Raptors this regular season.
In the first matchup, Minnesota rallied for a 128-126 win on the road Feb. 4. The Timberwolves outscored the Raptors 34-22 in the fourth quarter to seize the victory.
Edwards scored 30 points on 11-for-23 shooting to lead Minnesota in its first game against the Raptors. Ingram scored 25 points on 10-for-22 shooting to lead Toronto.
