Anthony Edwards torched the defending champs by scoring his career playoff-high 43 points in Ball Arena; probably the toughest arena to ball in. However, the biggest highlights from the winning moments come from the Sixth Man of the Year, aka Naz Reid. Stepping into action from the bottom lot of the rotation, Reid scored 14 of his 16 points during the fourth quarter alone. He acted like an anchor to deploy a final move right when the Nuggets needed a brief run to surpass a 2-point deficit at the beginning of 4th. He stepped into the ‘mentality’ right from the get-go.

For Game 1 against Denver, Naz Reid donned a purple pair of Kobe Bryant‘s sneakers. Moreover, even though it was a hook and not a post-up fade, Reid’s first point of the quarter came in a true Kobe fashion – a turnaround bank shot to give the Wolves a 2-point lead. He proceeded to double it with a three-point board shot and put up 7 points in under a minute.

Reid also provided much-needed resistance from the paint. His towering presence aided KAT and Gobert in extending their defensive reach. During crunch time, it helped Edwards see an open floor on the offense. On defense, it limited Nikola Jokic‘s opportunities, helping Rudy Gobert to play assertive defense during the final moments.

However, Reid’s impact on the final stretch is simply a brief storyline. The major fireworks came from Edwards, who, from what it looks like, overshadowed the Finals MVP!

Anthony Edwards stole the show

Jokic is a 2 time MVP and leads the MVP ladder for his third. Moreover, he was the Finals MVP last year for a team that is still heavily favored to repeat. Nevertheless, regardless of the Nuggets’ history. it looked like Anthony Edwards stole Jokic’s limelight in Game 1.

Anthony Edwards tore every layer of Mike Malone’s defense, contorting his body for jump shots and acrobatic lays throughout the game. The game saw Denver resorting to an unfamiliar demeanor, one that contrasted with their flawless offense and defense in the last 2 seasons. Moreover, Edwards even guarded Jamal Murray heavily for the first quarter, rendering him scoreless for the opening stretch.

Trending

“Could Hear Jeanie Buss & Rob Pelinka Chuckling”: LeBron James Declared to Be Manipulating NBA World With Obvious Bluff

May 17, 2024 12:58 PM EDT

Countdown Starts for Charles Barkley and TNT Crew as Ernie Johnson Makes Heartfelt Confession Before Parting

May 16, 2024 06:00 AM EDT

Big Setback for Shaq, as $155 Billion Company Eyes Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith Post-TNT Era

May 17, 2024 10:54 PM EDT

Caitlin Clark in Deep Waters as Indiana Fever Shatter Embarrassing WNBA Record After Defeat Against Sabrina Ionescu and Co.

May 17, 2024 07:05 AM EDT

Exclusive: Shaquille O’Neal Has Big Plans to Dethrone Nike With Allen Iverson & Reebok, Ex-Agent Reveals

May 17, 2024 02:15 PM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest NBA stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Ant’s 43 points are the highest by any player against the Nuggets in their recent dominance. The game is also Ant’s third back-to-back with 35 points; that too, all on the road.

Now, as Antman beat Nikola Jokic under Jokic’s favored conditions, the teams will battle again in the elevated arena for Game 2. Currently, it looks like Anthony Edwards can sink contested shots with the same efficiency as Jokic hits the easy ones. Nevertheless, if the Nuggets want to climb up from losing their home-court advantage, Jokic needs to bring his A-game to the court and make Edwards sweat.