Anthony Edwards was rolling in the third quarter on Tuesday during Minnesota’s narrow loss against the defending champion Nuggets.

The 22-year-old star guard scored 14 points in the frame. Denver adjusting by putting as much attention as you can possibly give on an opposing player – doubling Edwards the moment he caught the ball. Basically, the Nuggets were saying, “Anyone but Ant” to finish the frame and the Timberwolves were short-handed as is.

Edwards tried to push through the attention, and finished the quarter with an ill-advised jumper and a turnover.

That scenario has happened in the past, as Edwards tries to ride the wave just a few moments too long. It’s been the bad that’s come with the good in Edwards’ short career, and a worthy sacrifice for Minnesota.

But, perhaps, the most encouraging aspect came as the Timberwolves went to the bench between quarters.

“Ant came to the bench after, I think, he took one or two too many shots there in a row, and kind of did a heat-check shot,” Mike Conley said. “He said, ‘I was feeling myself too much.’ And that’s growth right there; for him to say and recognize that right away without me coming and telling him that.”

Edwards went on to tell Conley he was going to find the point guard and others within the game in his next stint. Edwards didn’t score in the fourth quarter of the defeat – which isn’t what Minnesota wants – but Conley had 13 in the frame and Minnesota had a chance to send the game to overtime in the closing seconds.

“A lot of it is him recognizing it and not allowing himself to get lost in the game so much,” Conley said. “When he’s rolling, he’s rolling. But he’s also trying to think about his teammates. He’s trying to think about how to win the game from that perspective.”

And that’s why the last game and a half, specifically, might be the best basketball of Edwards’ career. When the play is there for him to score, he’s taking it. When defenses are overcommitting to the guard, he’s getting off the ball and creating opportunities for others.

Yes, Edwards had 25 points in the second half of Minnesota’s win Monday in Utah, but he also had six assists. He had eight dimes Tuesday. Assists as a raw number don’t always tell the story, but they are a sign of the commitment Edwards is making to doing the right thing on every offensive possession.

In that scoreless fourth frame against Denver, Edwards noted the Nuggets “changed it up” and started blitzing him on screen-and-rolls and doubling him on the catch.

“So, just having to get off the ball and make the right reads, I feel like I did in the fourth,” Edwards said. “They did a great job of making me get off of it.”

And Minnesota, to some extent, was able to make Denver pay. The Nuggets survived the contest because some of their big-named players got hot at the right time. But Minnesota never faded in the contest. Part of that is due to Edwards’ leadership in playing hard and, just as importantly, the right way.

“I think it’s natural (to make the right play) at this point,” Edwards said, “because I don’t want to be on film the next day.”

It used to be easy to pick out five offensive plays in which Edwards forced the issue. It’s why even his 15-point quarters were sometimes harmful to Minnesota’s offense, because everyone else was left to spectate.

Now, even Edwards’ heaters are seemingly coming within the general flow of the game.

“Actually, Ant has done a really good job getting off of it in a crowd, and those guys have really benefited from it,” Wolves coach Chris Finch said. “I think it’s understanding you don’t have to hit a home run every time down. Certainly be aggressive, draw a crowd, make the right play. And it doesn’t matter. I don’t believe he scored in the fourth – that’s probably on me, maybe, to try to get the ball in his hands a little bit more. But we had some other decent looks and guys will normally step up and make those things. So, that’s what we’ve been preaching.”

Edwards has certainly been listening. He always listens, but the message looks to be sinking in deeper on a more consistent basis of late. Perhaps, it’s a sign the ownership he feels in Minnesota being ‘his’ offense, or a comfort in knowing that if he gets off the ball on consecutive possessions, there’s still no doubt the ball will be back in his hands the next time given the Timberwolves’ current injury situation.

Whatever the case may be, Minnesota is benefitting from some of the best offense of Edwards’ career, which is coming at a perfect time for the Timberwolves. The guard is leading from the front.

“He’s growing and that’s something we need. We can’t just rely on him to go score 60 every night. He’s capable of doing that. But if we’re gonna win, we need all of us,” Conley said. “We need me. We need Nickeil (Alexander-Walker), we need (Jordan McLaughlin), Monte (Morris), Jaden (McDaniels) and all the guys be able to have a rhythm, and be able to knock down shots in the fourth and relieve him some of that pressure. So, he’s realizing that. And (Tuesday) was another night where we got back in the game, even without him having to take us all the way.”

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