The NBA playoffs can be the highest of highs and the absolute lowest of lows. You dream all season about your team making a deep run, fighting for a championship. But then, sometimes, you get a game like this: Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, season on the line, and your squad just completely implodes, leading to a season-ending 124-94 beatdown. That’s exactly what Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves experienced against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and it wasn’t just a loss that sent OKC to the NBA Finals with a 4-1 series win, the Wolves officially joined some truly unwanted, embarrassing playoff company along the way. Talk about a vibe killer.

Let’s just set the scene for this horror show in Oklahoma City, because it’s wild. The Wolves, already down 3-1 and needing a literal miracle, came out for Game 5 and just… fell apart. We’re talking a disastrous first half where they looked completely lost. At halftime, the Thunder were up by a whopping 33 points, leading 65-32. The Wolves shot a miserable 31.6% from the field in that half, turned the ball over a staggering 14 times, and only managed six assists as a team. It was so bad that their nine points in the first quarter actually set a new franchise record for the fewest points ever scored in any playoff quarter.

And then, to make matters even worse and really pour salt in the wound, the Timberwolves achieved a truly painful distinction in that first half. They became the third team in these playoffs to actually commit more turnovers than they had made field goals in a single half. The Memphis Grizzlies had previously hit this low point in their Game 3 against this same OKC team, and the Cleveland Cavaliers managed it in their Game 4 versus the Indiana Pacers.

Ouch. More turnovers than made shots in a playoff half? That’s not just bad, that’s historically bad. You’re literally giving the ball away more often than you’re putting it through the hoop! And if you’re wondering how the Wolves’ key guys were doing amidst this train wreck, well, let’s just say it was a total no-show.

Anthony Edwards, the guy who’s supposed to be their engine, was practically invisible offensively in that first half, with only four points on just a couple of shot attempts. He finished the game with a quiet 19 points on 7-of-18 shooting and a team-worst -29. Julius Randle, after making the team’s first shot of the game (a three), completely cratered, racking up a horrendous -21 in his 12 first-half minutes.

This collective failure from their main dudes, combined with the team-wide offensive paralysis, led to an ugly historical marker. For Anthony Edwards, who carries so much of the offensive load and the team’s hopes, this kind of collective collapse has to be an incredibly frustrating way to end a promising season.

Ant needs help! Can the wolves build a real contender around their superstar?

Getting bounced from the Western Conference Finals two years in a row, especially after a brutal five-game beatdown (even with that Game 3 tease)? Yeah, that’s a tough look for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Their Game 5 implosion was rough, but honestly, just being in the Conference Finals is a huge glow-up after years of being an afterthought. With a legit superstar like Anthony Edwards, there’s always a shot. The real question now, heading into a wild offseason, is how do the Wolves get Ant the help he clearly needs to level up?

Ant is the main guy. He’s locked in, getting paid like the superstar he is (over $45 million next season!), and he’s the face of the franchise. Rudy Gobert, with his DPOY awards and a slightly more team-friendly extension, is the other big piece. But building a championship squad around those two, especially with the NBA’s new money rules? That’s where Tim Connelly and the front office really earn their stripes.

Here’s the tricky part: the money situation. If Randle and Reid opt in, the Wolves are looking at seven guys making eight figures, pushing them into luxury tax territory with limited draft picks. The real nightmare is navigating the new salary cap aprons.

So, who can actually help Ant? First up, what happens with Randle? He’s talented, for sure, but his fit has always been a bit weird, and he definitely pulled a disappearing act for big chunks of that OKC series. With not a lot of teams having big money to throw around in free agency, maybe Randle opts in, and the Wolves try to use his big salary to help match in a trade for a player who’s a better fit alongside Ant – maybe a more consistent shooter or a better playmaker.

Then there’s Naz Reid, the former Sixth Man of the Year. This dude is a stud, a microwave scorer off the bench who could probably start for half the teams in the league. The Wolves would be crazy not to try and extend him if he opts in. His current deal is a steal, and any big raise wouldn’t even kick in until Mike Conley’s contract is done. But Naz knows he’s good. He could get paid, and maybe get a starting gig, somewhere else. That’s going to be a nail-biter for Wolves fans. Losing him would be a massive blow to their depth and scoring punch. And don’t sleep on Nickeil Alexander-Walker. He was kind of a throw-in when they got Mike Conley, but he’s turned himself into a legit 3-and-D guy, and balling out these playoffs. Even his cousin Shai Gilgeous-Alexander noted, “Great feel, great skill. It’s only a matter of time before he blows (up).” after his Game 4 performance.

Look, the Wolves are a good team, making back-to-back Conference Finals with Ant, who’s only getting scarier, plus young guys like Dillingham and Shannon Jr. The front office created some wiggle room with the Towns trade and Gobert’s new deal, but “some” isn’t a lot. They’ll need to be super smart with trades and limited spending to find pieces that can truly help Ant get them over the hump. It’s a tough road, but with a generational talent like Ant, they always have a fighting chance.