The Minnesota Timberwolves faced a must-win Game 5 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2024–25 NBA Playoffs. Instead of extending the series, they were thoroughly outplayed and eliminated in convincing fashion. Anthony Edwards failed to deliver a standout performance, and the Timberwolves fell well short of matching a Thunder squad led by the dynamic Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
After the game, Edwards addressed the media with candor, reflecting on the loss and the end of Minnesota’s postseason run. “They dominated the game from the tip. Can’t do nothing but tip my hat to those guys. They came ready. Good job by them,” he said. The Timberwolves simply lacked the offensive execution and composure required to contend with a loaded Thunder team firing on all cylinders. A disastrous first half sealed their fate.
Edwards was harassed all night by a swarming Thunder defense that rotated multiple elite defenders on him. From Luguentz Dort and Alex Caruso to Cason Wallace, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City kept Edwards in check throughout the series. He acknowledged the difficulty, praising their defensive effort and conceding that he couldn’t find a rhythm.
As Minnesota’s franchise cornerstone, Edwards will once again shoulder the blame for a second consecutive postseason collapse. Fair or not, the expectations are sky-high—fueled in part by lofty comparisons to Michael Jordan. Still, the 23-year-old star made it clear he plans to respond the only way he knows how. “Nobody is going to work harder than me this summer,” Edwards said. “I’ll tell you that much.”
Edwards finished the night with 19 points on 7-of-18 shooting—a line that reflects his struggles against the NBA’s top-rated defense. Held under 20 points in three of the five games, he never quite found the offensive spark that made him so dangerous during the regular season.
The disappointing end echoes last year’s second-round exit against the Mavericks, where Edwards also failed to elevate the team. Following the Thunder’s series-clinching win on Wednesday, Edwards offered a cryptic but vivid analogy to describe their unity. “Fifteen puppets, one string,” he said, according to Timberwolves beat reporter Dane Moore.
The comment may have been a subtle jab at the Thunder’s focus on neutralizing him, or a grudging compliment to their cohesion. Either way, Oklahoma City’s game plan worked—and it sent Minnesota home.