When the ball gets heavy, Anthony Edwards wants it in his hands. And in Inglewood, against the Los Angeles Clippers, he proved it once again.

The Minnesota Timberwolves guard sealed a 94-88 win over the Clippers, burying a massive three-pointer with 43 seconds left at Intuit Dome. The shot broke the deadlock and also ignited a fiery exchange with head coach Chris Finch.

The Go-Ahead Three and the Message to the Bench

With Minnesota up by two, Edwards attacked into a double-team and created space for a fading jumper that pushed the score to 92-88, turning the closing stretch into a two-possession game.

Right after the bucket, Ant-Man turned toward the bench with a crystal-clear message:

This is what I do!

Anthony Edwards

Speaking postgame on NBA on Prime, Edwards revealed the backstory. On the previous possession, he had taken a midrange shot and Finch told him to move the ball:

On the play before, when I took the midrange, Finchie told me “Pass the ball!” I told him, you don’t want me to pass it, you want me to shoot it.

Anthony Edwards

The back-and-forth says plenty about the mindset of the 2001-born star, who is now accustomed to putting the team on his shoulders in clutch moments.

All-Star Numbers

Edwards finished with 31 points (12-of-24 from the field), 3 rebounds and 5 assists, leading all scorers on the night. The performance carried even more weight considering the tough outing from Julius Randle, who was held to just 4 points on 1-of-10 shooting.

Without Randle’s usual offensive production, Minnesota needed a clear go-to option. Edwards didn’t hesitate.

On the other side, the Clippers were without Kawhi Leonard, sidelined with an ankle issue, and dropped to 27-31 on the season. The Timberwolves improved to 37-23, strengthening their position in the Western Conference playoff race.

What the Exchange With Finch Really Means

The animated moment between Edwards and Finch shouldn’t be viewed as a rift. On the contrary, both have publicly expressed mutual respect multiple times. The scene instead reflects the competitive edge of a team aiming to take the next step.

One intriguing question remains: was Finch right to ask for a “cleaner” look – perhaps finding Rudy Gobert, who was open in the paint for several seconds? Or, in tight late-game situations, is it right to trust your closer’s instinct?

Edwards chose the latter. And at least this time, the floor backed him up.