SALT LAKE CITY — One thunderous dunk Monday night perfectly captured Anthony Edwards' late dominance.
Edwards hit a monster slam on John Collins of the Utah Jazz in the third quarter, helping the Minnesota Timberwolves win 114-104, but both players were furious after the play.
“I thought I was going to miss the chance because I wasn't close to the rim, but somehow God made it,” said Edwards, who scored 25 of his 32 points after halftime.
The play quickly went viral on social media. Timberwolves veteran point guard Mike Conley said it may have been the best dunk he's ever witnessed in person.
“He's almost like a cat,” Conley said. “He just keeps moving forward and lands on his feet. That's what makes him the person he is and how he can play in the game.”
Edwards said he grew up admiring players like Vince Carter, known for his dunking abilities, and that it was always his goal to dunk like them.
His bang on Monday certainly puts him in that category.
“It's thrilling, because I always dreamed of dunking on someone like that,” Edwards said.
Collins and Edwards were injured during the play.
Mr Edwards' hand collided with Mr Collins' cheekbone, dislocating the ring finger of his left hand. During the ensuing timeout, he rushed back to the locker room and had his fingers replaced and taped before returning to action.
Collins was diagnosed with a possible concussion and missed the entire fourth quarter. His injury was later confirmed to be a head contusion.
Edwards' dunk gave a shorthanded Minnesota team an emotional boost at a crucial moment. The Timberwolves lost Naz Reid to a head injury in the first half and were already playing without injured starters Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns.
“That's chilling, because I've always dreamed of soaking someone like that.”
anthony edwards
“It energizes everyone,” Edwards said. “Everyone wants to defend and stop. It makes the game more exciting.”
Edwards also totaled eight assists, seven rebounds, and two blocks in 38 minutes. His relentless energy on both ends of the court kept the Jazz on their toes throughout the second half.
“That's who he is,” Utah coach Will Hardy said. “He's an All-Star. He's a hell of a player.”
Edwards scored 30 points in three consecutive games. He averaged 31.5 points and shot 58 percent from the field in back-to-back games against Utah.
“He was a guy who could always turn the game around,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “He knows when to step up. He knows when to make a big play. Sometimes he makes it out of nothing. But now he's more refined in what he's doing. It seems to be working. He's a little calmer and he's not in too much of a hurry.”