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Dave McMenamin, ESPN Staff Writer
MINNEAPOLIS — The Dallas Mavericks may have put a quick stop to the Minnesota Timberwolves’ best postseason run in decades Thursday, dominating Game 5 to clinch the Western Conference crown and a spot in the NBA Finals, but that didn’t slow down Anthony Edwards. ‘ prospect about the future little.
“We’ll be back next year,” Edwards said after he had 28 points on 10-for-18 shooting, 9 rebounds and 6 assists in a 124-103 loss.
Edwards, a former No. was in 2004.
All matured, 22 years old.
After sweeping the Phoenix Suns in the first round and coming back from 20 points down in the second half of Game 7 of the conference semifinals to topple the defending champion Denver Nuggets, the Mavs proved too much for Minnesota.
“It’s a lot of people’s first time in this light, especially me. It’s the first time,” Edwards said. “But we’ll be ready, man. We’ll be all right. First. Take the loss. Congratulations Mavericks. But we’ll be back. We’ll be fine.”
The No. 3 seed Wolves have a home advantage over the No. 1 seed Mavs. 5 but fell 3-0 to start the series, including blowing an 18-point lead at Target Center in Game 2 when the series MVP was unanimous. , Luka Doncic, got the go-ahead 3 in the final seconds.
Minnesota’s stout defense, featuring fourth-best defensive player Rudy Gobert, looked vulnerable against both Doncic and Kyrie Irving’s two-way attack. And the Wolves’ offense was even less reliable, with Karl-Anthony Towns struggling through his first three losses before rallying to average 26.5 points on 54.5% shooting and 8.5 rebounds in Games 4 and 5.
Towns didn’t pick up any fouls in Game 5 after his Game 4 fumble — the fourth time during Minnesota’s playoff run he’s been ejected for five or more fouls — but his effort was futile, as Dallas led by 29 at the half and by as many as 36 at one. point.
For Towns, the No.
“I’ve been here for nine years and I’m happy that the position is moving forward,” Towns said.
The 28-year-old big man, who has four years left on his contract with Wolves (including a player option for the 2027-28 season), was asked to expand on his comments.
“I’m sure I’ll be able to be here with my brother and continue what I’m doing at home,” Towns said. “So that’s the plan. Nothing’s changed from my side. I love this city. I love this organization. I love this city. It gave me my life, me and my family.”
Towns was asked if the Wolves’ current build — with one key rotation player in Kyle Anderson becoming an unrestricted free agent this summer — is enough to convince a potential new owner to keep the team. (Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore are currently in a legal battle with Glen Taylor over ownership of the team.)
“It’s not for me to worry about,” Towns said. “My job is to go out every day and do something this summer and continue to improve my game and my mentality not only as a player but also as a person.”
Towns added: “I’m excited to see next season when I go into training camp for my first interviews and stuff so that I’ll not only see the growth for me as a player that I’m going to show this season, but my growth as a player. I can’t say enough.” about (new ownership).
Wolves coach Chris Finch said the biggest thing about the way his team ended up in the conference finals was the collective awareness and commitment needed to keep going as the postseason progresses into the future.
Finch, 54, who coached in the G League and then was an NBA assistant for several years before becoming the Wolves’ head coach in the middle of Edwards’ rookie season, acknowledged that possibilities like Minnesota’s this spring could be fleeting.
Then again, even he had to share some of Edwards’ unsolicited optimism about what he could do for the team.
“We are very disappointed. When I look back all summer long, there will be many regrets about the early part of this series,” Finch said. “But this is a very good year. I’m very proud of the guys. The way the city has got behind the team, it’s special. We’ve always said since we got here, we want to make a team that people are proud to root for and play the right way. We feel like that.
“Now we have to keep adjusting everything.”
