Anthony Edwards could only tip his cap to LeBron James after the Los Angeles Lakers superstar delivered a vintage performance in Game 3 of their first-round series. Even though the Minnesota Timberwolves walked away with a 116-104 victory and a 2-1 lead, Edwards made it clear postgame that he was in awe of what James, at age 40, managed to do on Friday night.
“He was incredible. He did everything he could in his power to try to will them to the win. He was shooting it from Yucatan, he was shooting it crazy, for sure. He caught one of them in transition, and I was closing out and thinking, ‘He’s not about to shoot this,’ and he launched it. It was fun to watch him and compete against him today.”
LeBron turned back the clock with an electric 38-point, 10-rebound outing, shooting 61.9% from the field and knocking down five three-pointers. He ignited a furious fourth-quarter rally for the Lakers, draining deep threes that left even Edwards shaking his head in disbelief.
Despite James’ heroics, the Timberwolves, led by Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, and Julius Randle, found a way to close out the game. Edwards finished with 29 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, including several clutch plays in the final minutes.
He hit a go-ahead three, assisted on a Naz Reid triple, and scored on a tough drive against James to give Minnesota breathing room before delivering the dagger jumper with just over a minute left.
The Timberwolves closed the game on a dominant 13-1 run, with Edwards orchestrating much of the offense and the defense suffocating a tired Lakers squad.
Still, the respect Edwards showed for James underscored just how remarkable LeBron’s performance was, even in defeat. It was a reminder that James, even after two decades in the league, remains capable of carrying a team when the stakes are highest.
This wasn’t just a night where the Timberwolves beat an aging star clinging to his past glory. It was a battle between one of the NBA’s rising superstars and arguably the greatest player of all time with the younger Edwards admitting he was just as much a spectator at times, marveling at what James was doing.
James himself noted after the game that turnovers and a lack of rim protection hurt the Lakers badly, but he showed no signs of giving up. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves can feel good about not only winning the game but surviving a full-force LeBron onslaught.
If Edwards can continue to deliver in the clutch while leading his team with poise and confidence, Minnesota could soon be moving on to the second round. As for James, he reminded everyone, even his opponents, why he is still a force to be reckoned with, no matter how many birthdays he’s celebrated.
