Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards recently called out the referees after complaining that he didn’t receive many foul calls on his drives to the basket.
On Saturday, that changed a bit for the rookie.
The No. 1 overall pick helped lead the Timberwolves to a 120-110 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans with 18 points off the bench, his seventh game of the season with at least 15 points. He went 5-of-14 from the field, but, perhaps most encouraging, shot a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line.
He enjoyed the benefit of earning the whistle during the win.
“I was happy,” Edwards said after the game. “I was extremely happy because I can get myself going.”
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Edwards throughout the season has struggled to shoot at times, converting on just 34.7% from the field and 27.2% from 3-point range.
He mentioned that driving to the rim, drawing contact and getting to the line can help him get going, but he still hasn’t earned that respect from the officials as other players have.
The 19-year-old has proven to be a tough assignment to cover when he can get it going early. He scored 11 points alone in the first half, which helped set the tone for the rest of the game. When he is engaged and knocking down shots off the bench, the Timberwolves have played much better as a group.
Edwards still has plenty of room to grow, but has shown glimpses of being a key contributor with the Timberwolves. The organization has high hopes for him and he figures to have a bright future.
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