The Minnesota Timberwolves couldn’t get it together in Game 1 of their playoff matchup against the Golden State Warriors. Despite the early promise, they faltered, shooting just 39.5 percent from the field. Their long-range shooting was especially disastrous, going 0-for-16 from beyond the arc. The team looked overwhelmed, and even Anthony Edwards, who had a rough start, couldn’t break through in time. After a second-half surge, Edwards’ 22 points were too little, too late to turn things around. Plus, Edwards was nursing an injury, though it barely registered compared to what happened next.

The real shock came when Stephen Curry, the heart of the Warriors, was forced to leave the game early in the second quarter. After favoring his left leg, Curry exited and was ruled out for the remainder of the game. The injury, a hamstring strain, was severe enough to keep him out for the next few games. Inside the locker room, its crushing weight hit hard; Marcus Thompson of The Athletic described, “Kerr already knew, as tears fell from Steph Curry’s eyes, the heartbreak still fresh from the news that he sprained his left hamstring. Words weren’t what Curry needed. Or what Kerr had.” Curry’s playoff aspirations were at stake.

While the Timberwolves couldn’t get a handle on the game, people quickly began talking about the emotional toll Curry’s injury took on the Warriors. Richard Jefferson, on the Road Trippin’ podcast, reflected on how this injury might have affected Anthony Edwards’ performance. “Steph goes out and, like, he’s pulling on his hamstring, and all of a sudden, he don’t come back. You find out Steph’s out for the whole game. That’ll put you in a matrix, right?” he explained. According to him, that was the reason why the Wolves seemed to be less intense.

He further claimed, “That raises level, right? I need Steph. Like the same way he’s going at Bron and KD, Steph is his moment. So for him to be like, ‘Steph’s out,’ like, that’s a psychological reset, especially for a young player who—you can tell that type of stuff fuels him, right?” He appears to be understanding towards Edwards’ lackluster performance in game 1, and thinks that the spark wasn’t there for Antman to give it his all.

Now that Curry is out of the games indefinitely, it doesn’t sound that well for the Warriors, his presence was like a wall they could fall back to. But Jefferson wasn’t all doom and gloom for them, though. He saw a hidden benefit for the Warriors, despite losing Curry in such a crucial game. “Being up 1-0, that buys them—that buys them another three days before you would actually have to call on him in an elimination situation,” he said. It was a silver lining, no doubt.

Winning this game gave the Warriors a little breathing room and more time for Curry’s hamstring to heal. As Jefferson put it, the Warriors didn’t just have a 1-0 lead, they had essential time to recover. It could make all the difference in keeping their championship hopes alive.

Anthony Edwards faces the mirror and looks ahead with purpose

Anthony Edwards didn’t dodge the criticism, and instead, owned it. After the Timberwolves’ Game 1 loss, he didn’t blame the refs, his teammates, or the rhythm of the game. He looked inward. When asked about his struggles, Ant admitted it flat-out: “Every last one of us gotta play better individually, including myself.” That’s not just an empty quote. It’s a mindset shift, the kind that can change the temperature of a locker room. And if there’s one thing this young Wolves team needs, it’s a spark heading into Game 2.

You could tell something was off. It wasn’t just the missed shots or the lack of energy, it was how un-Edwards the night felt. Usually, even when he’s off, he finds ways to make his presence felt. In Game 7 against the Lakers, he made plays even without lighting up the scoreboard. But this time, nothing seemed to connect. He missed looks at the rim and didn’t have his usual command of the floor. Still, Ant made it clear: he’s not making excuses. He’s gearing up for a response.

What makes this moment important is what it says about Edwards as a leader. He is humbly taking the responsibility. That sets the tone for the rest of the squad. “You know when you lose a game, it’s always somebody got this, somebody got that, this is the reason you lost, I don’t really look at that,” he reflected.

Game 2 now becomes a chance to even the series, especially with Curry off the court. Can Minnesota learn from its stumbles and bounce back? Edwards seems ready. The question is whether the rest of the team will follow his lead. From how he’s talking, he’s not coming back timid. If anything, expect Ant to be hunting every possession. And if that version of him shows up, things could shift. Fast.