This year's dunk award went to Anthony Edwards.
The Minnesota Timberwolves star delivered an absolutely ridiculous dunk in the second half of their 114-104 win over the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on Monday night. Edwards got up on a fast break and didn't flinch while putting Jazz forward John Collins on the poster.
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In fact, Edwards threw the dunk so hard that it looked like he hurt his finger in the process. Edwards fouled out on the play and stayed in the game.
While the play itself was great, the photos taken of the dunk were somewhat better than the videos.
“I'll tell my kids, 'I made it. This is my assistant,'” Nickeil Alexander-Walker said. Via Chris Hayne of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “I can really say, ‘Oh, I was about to shoot him, but I turned him down.’ “… What he did, brother, is what kept me going. “I was angry the rest of the game.”
Edwards said it was without a doubt the best dunk of his career.
Q: You didn't even hit the edge on him…
Anthony Edwards: “That's what I'm saying.” I was thinking I would miss it because I wasn't that close to the edge, but somehow God wanted that for me.
– Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) March 19, 2024
Collins was ruled out of the game later in the fourth quarter due to dunking to be evaluated for a concussion. according to Athlete Shams CharaniaHe was diagnosed with a head contusion but avoided a concussion.
Edwards entered Monday averaging 26.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and five assists per game this season, his fourth in the league. The former No. 1 pick earned his second straight All-Star nomination this season, agreeing to a five-year, $260 million extension with the Timberwolves last summer.
Despite falling into a 16-point hole near the end of the first quarter, the Timberwolves clawed their way back into the game and then took a 12-1 lead midway through the fourth quarter. From there, they held on to win by 10 points.
Collin Sexton led the Jazz with 24 points off the bench in the loss. Lauri Markkanen added 22 points and 12 rebounds, and Keyonte George finished with 15 points and eight assists. The Jazz, who have now lost two straight to the Timberwolves and eight of their last 10, hold a record of just 29-39.
Edwards led the Timberwolves with 32 points, seven assists and seven rebounds while shooting 13 of 23 from the field. Naz Reid added 17 points, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 13 points off the bench. The Timberwolves have a three-game winning streak, and will return home to start a four-game homestand against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night.
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