Generally speaking, Anthony Edwards probably owns the title of the Timberwolves’ “closer.” The 22-year-old guard likes the big moments and is certainly capable of delivering in them.

His method of doing so is often through isolation play in which he takes — and makes — difficult shots that some would probably describe as “ill-advised.” But the ability to make difficult shots is a big reason why superstars make big money.

“It’s great that Ant has the ability to get to the heart of the defense, rise up and make big shots, make tough shots,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch noted.

And, to Edwards’ credit, he has knocked down 60 percent of his shots in clutch time — when the game is within five points in the final five minutes of regulation — this season.

“But I think in the past, and particularly while he’s been learning to close games, you kind of live and die with some of that,” Finch said.

There have been countless games in recent years in which the Timberwolves either lose games or make then more intriguing than they need to be because they slip into such an isolation-heavy offense. Sometimes that can play out well, and sometimes the difficult shots won’t fall.

For every game like Monday’s in Miami, when Edwards drilled a tough turnaround shot on the block, or earlier this season against Boston, where the young guard nailed one contested look after another in the extra session, there will be a game like Thursday’s against the Lakers.

Edwards missed three straight contested shots against the Lakers, a dry spurt that allowed Los Angeles to trim the deficit from 13 points to seven in the final five minutes. In past years, as Finch alluded to, the Timberwolves simply would have continued going back to the Edwards well, hoping that the next shot fell. Particularly given Thursday’s circumstances, with Karl-Anthony Towns in the locker room with an injury.

“But now we don’t have to,” Finch said.

Because if Edwards doesn’t have it going or isn’t generating good offense, the Timberwolves now have the luxury of handing the ball off to a late-game savant in veteran point guard Mike Conley. Prior to the Edwards-centric offense, Conley ran a pick and roll with Gobert which resulted in Conley knocking down an open 3-point shot.

And, sure enough, the possession after Edwards’ third straight miss Thursday, Conley got the ball, looked off Edwards and ran the same pick and roll with Gobert. This time, the Lakers paid more mind to Conley, freeing up a diving lane for Gobert. The point guard fed the center for an easy flush to seal the victory.

“Mike has done a really great job. He and Rudy are such a good combination,” Finch said. “You see it, not only with his approach, but his ability to make huge plays, whether it be a steal in transition, obviously the threes, get the ball to the right people at the right time, close the game, quarterback the defense. On and on it goes.”

And it extends beyond Conley. With 3 minutes, 40 seconds to play, when Conley was still on the bench, Kyle Anderson ran a pick and roll with Gobert that ended in a lob for a deuce.

“Then also getting it to Ant when we need to,” Finch said. “And there’s always KAT, too, we can benefit from.”

The Timberwolves have so many safe hands with which they can trust the ball with the game on the line this season. It’s why they are 8-1 in clutch-time games, with a clutch-time offensive rating of 126.3 points per 100 possessions, the fifth-best mark in the NBA. What was a weakness in past years has quickly morphed into a strength.

Which sets the stage well for a potential late-game showdown Saturday in Sacramento. The Kings sport the reigning NBA Clutch Player of the Year in De’Aaron Fox.

But it is not a 1-on-1 showdown. The Timberwolves don’t just have one go-to guy. They have strength in numbers, as well as options.

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