CNN
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It could solely be March, however Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards might have already got the NBA dunk of the season.
Within the third quarter of Minnesota’s 114-104 win over the Utah Jazz on Monday night time, Edwards led the cost on a fastbreak after a steal, took off from the dotted line after receiving the ball and elevated for a booming poster slam over six-foot-nine Utah ahead John Collins.
The spotlight play swiftly went viral on social media and thrilled Edwards’ teammates, with the ‘Wolves bench barely in a position to comprise themselves after the monster dunk.
The slam was so highly effective that each gamers have been left feeling the consequences of it within the instant aftermath.
Collins was pressured to go away the sport and was checked for a concussion earlier than finally being recognized with a head contusion. In the meantime, Edwards was seen clutching his hand as his teammates mobbed him and revealed after the sport that he dislocated his finger within the course of. Per the NBA, he returned to the locker room throughout a subsequent timeout to pop it into again into place and get it taped up earlier than returning to the courtroom.
“I used to be pondering I used to be gonna miss [the dunk] as a result of I wasn’t near the rim, however by some means God willed it in for me,” Edwards mentioned after the sport, per the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Chris Hine.
“It provides me chills, man. As a result of, like, I all the time dreamed of dunking on any individual like that and watching Vince Carter bounce over any individual or like watching T-Mac (Tracy McGrady). I all the time dreamed of dunking on any individual like that and that was like my favourite one in every of all time.”
Edwards described the dunk as one of the best of his profession on the published – excessive reward, contemplating the unforgettable poster he had towards the Toronto Raptors throughout his rookie season.
Edwards led the Timberwolves in scoring, posting 32 factors to go together with seven rebounds, eight assists, two blocks and a steal on an evening the place Minnesota was with out its star massive man duo of Karl-Anthony Cities and Rudy Gobert.
“That’s what a pacesetter does, man,” Timberwolves level guard Mike Conley mentioned, per the Star Tribune. “He’s placing his staff on his again. He’s placing us first and he’s placing his well being apart and saying, ‘Hey, it’s an necessary stretch for us. We have to get these wins.’
“I’m his greatest fan. He gained me over once more tonight not simply the dunk, however dislocating his finger, going again there taping it up, ending the sport how he did. These are tales I’ll be telling folks after I’m outdated and grey.”
The win pushes Minnesota to 47-21 on the season, as they proceed to battle for the highest seed within the Western Convention. The ‘Wolves are at the moment second, half a sport behind the West-leading Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
The Jazz then again fall to 29-39 after the loss, although they have been handed a lift by the return of former All-Star ahead Lauri Markkanen, who posted 22 factors and 12 rebounds after a six-game absence. Guard Collin Sexton led the staff in scoring with 24 factors off the bench.
“I assumed there was a whole lot of good things from the staff tonight,” Utah coach Will Hardy mentioned after the sport. “Credit score to Minnesota … Anthony Edwards hit some robust photographs within the fourth quarter, which is who he’s. I assumed we put ourselves ready to win the sport going into the fourth quarter. … Tied sport at residence, that’s all you may ask for.”
The Timberwolves return to the courtroom on Tuesday night time to tackle the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets within the second leg of a back-to-back, whereas the Jazz will battle the Thunder on Wednesday.