You’d think the league would’ve learned by now — don’t give Anthony Edwards the final seconds. Just… don’t. Because every time the clock gets nervous, Ant gets nasty. With the final seconds before halftime ticking away in Game 4 between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors, Anthony Edwards turned the heat up in a way only he can.

Remember his step-back three over Al Horford last season? The one where he stared down the entire Celtics bench like he just ordered their careers to-go? That wasn’t luck. That was Edwards warming up for nights like these.

Fast forward to Game 4 between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors. The Wolves were clawing their way back into rhythm, the Warriors looking to take momentum into halftime. Because Anthony Edwards isn’t just playing basketball anymore. He’s crafting moments. And in Game 4, he carved up a viral classic. You’d think that’d be enough to contain the moment. Wrong!

Because before the swish, Payton, the Warriors’ defensive ace, was right in Edwards’ face, trying to block any chance of a clean shot. With 2 seconds left on the clock before halftime, it was one-on-one, the stakes as high as they get. And then Edwards did what he does best. He took the challenge head-on, drained the three, almost as if he was leading the Timberwolves to a win, leaving Payton and the Warriors in the dust. Ball. Arc. Swish. Buzz.

It was defense pulled up like it came from another galaxy, or at least from someone who’s never heard of hesitation. And somewhere courtside, a woman wearing a Warriors tee and leaning on crutches physically flinched.

In that instant, she became a meme. A mood. A mascot for the shared disbelief felt across Dub Nation. Because this wasn’t just a shot. It was a moment. And that moment had a victim. Gary Payton II.

How Anthony Edwards’ play in game 4 vs the Warriors made Gary Payton II & Co. speechless

Let’s talk about GP2 for a second. He’s no slouch. He’s the guy you assign to the other guy. Defensive energy, hops, instincts. The kind of player who makes guards think twice. But Anthony Edwards? He didn’t blink.

Their one-on-one clash had all the playoff tension of a Game 4 possession — elbows flying, shoulders bumping, no help defense, no excuses. This wasn’t some fancy set play. This was primal hooping. Payton dug in. Edwards dug deeper. It’s not often you see a defensive stopper look frozen mid-play. But when Anthony Edwards let it fly? GP2 just watched.

But again, this was halftime. Not the fourth. But the feel in the arena was unmistakable. That shot sent Minnesota into the locker room with jet fuel. Their bench exploded. For the Warriors, that final play felt bigger than a single bucket. This is a team that thrives on momentum. They use surges, not just box scores, to dominate. Getting sniped like that, especially when you thought you had the final possession handled, stings.

Steve Kerr’s rotations had been tight. Payton was put in specifically to neutralize guys like Anthony Edwards. And in that moment? The plan failed. This isn’t 2015 anymore. The Warriors aren’t invincible. But is this how it’s going to be for the Golden State Warriors without their golden star, Stephen Curry, till game 6? That crutches-wielding fan? She felt it first. Because sometimes the raw truth hits before the stats do. So… what now?

Is this shot the moment that turns the tide in the series? Maybe not on paper. But emotionally? Momentum-wise? Oh, you bet the Wolves are walking taller. And Anthony Edwards? He’s walking into the second half and the rest of this postseason like a man who knows he’s ready to steal the show.

This isn’t just another highlight. This is a bookmark. A pause in the narrative to say: remember this play. Because the story of this series, and maybe even this postseason, might have just pivoted on a single, ruthless, confidence-soaked jumper. Stay tuned. The second half’s just getting started.