There was a time this season when Anthony Edwards could no longer deal with how much his teammates frustrated him. “I think it’s we soft as (heck) as a team, internally,” he told the media after a tough game. And that’s not what a leader does, right? Well, slowly but surely, Ant is growing into that role for his team. And after their team’s win in Game 3, his head coach came out to reveal just how much Ant’s leadership helped the team. But their win may have also been helped by a private meeting the Wolves had before the game.

Nonetheless, the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Oklahoma City Thunder by over 40 points tonight. It was a dominant showing and a fitting reply after going 2-0 down in the Western Conference Finals. And once through with Game 3, Chris Finch revealed how the 23-year-old stepped up in the locker room after Game 2. It seems he had a huge role in not letting his teammates get deflated.

“[Ant] always comes in, in a good mood and he’s always ready to go. And he was one of the most positive voices after game two, you know, in the locker room. So, you know, the leadership that he has, shown this season is, has come leaps and bounds. It’s just another example of it,” Chris Finch said during the postgame presser.

And these words from Finch are a huge departure from the side of Edwards we saw when he put his team on blast after a loss. But all of this is down to him understanding that you can’t get through to everyone in the same way. “Some guys, I have to talk to and pull to the side. Some guys I have to talk to and cuss at. There’s different ways, and it’s about not being afraid. That’s the biggest thing to step into that role. My teammates trust me. So it’s a privilege to have guys like that,” said the T-Wolves guard.

And instead of abusing that privilege, Anthony Edwards has used it to help his team stay afloat in the Western Conference Finals. After all, even one person remaining positive after two consecutive losses, especially when they came with huge margins of 26 and 15 points respectively, does a lot to keep the team’s morale up. The Timberwolves showed tonight that morale was not a problem for them as they ran riot over the Thunder. And they have Ant-Man to thank for it. Remember the 30 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists while shooting 12-17 from the field? Stunning!

Moving on, another detail about the Timberwolves’ preparation has come to light. And one thing’s clear from it — the Timberwolves were not accepting anything but a win.

Shams Charania reveals Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves’ intense preparation for Game 3

The Minnesota Timberwolves HAD to win tonight’s game. With them being 2-0 down, it’s not an overstatement to say that the entire series hung in the balance. But they’ve managed to stay in the series after a dominant, 42-point win over the Thunder tonight. And it all may come down to the insane preparation they went through the morning before Game 3. And we have ESPN insider Shams Charania to thank for the details.

 “But as a basketball team, there’s been a lot of conversations. I am told that the Timberwolves had a 45-minute-long film session this morning. *That’s much longer than usual for this team on game day. And a lot of those conversations since game two have revolved around making quicker decisions, playing with pace, playing aggressively and smartly, and getting away from isolation-heavy basketball, which they feel like they have over the first two games of this series,” Charania told Malika Andrews on ESPN.

And their preparation showed tonight. The Thunder were barely able to get 100 points on the board, given how aggressive the Wolves were. Further, they held the Thunder to 40.7% shooting. The home team never let them settle on the ball, and it led to OKC turning the ball over more than they usually do, which stood at 15 while the Wolves had 10. Moreover, the intensity with which Minnesota moved the ball to get open looks showed as they ended up with 11 more dimes than the Thunder.

All in all, the Timberwolves had a lot of positives to take away from tonight’s win. Ant’s leadership is at the forefront. But also, the way the team came together under him is the most underrated aspect of tonight’s win. After all, it should send a clear message to the league — Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves are ready. So, how will everyone else respond?