Sometimes, all it takes is one moment to flip the switch. For Anthony Edwards, that moment came in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Golden State Warriors—and it wasn’t a highlight of his own.
Instead, it was Jonathan Kuminga’s dunk over him that lit the fire. Edwards struggled in the first half, scoring just eight points as the Minnesota Timberwolves found themselves in a tight battle with the Warriors. But after Kuminga threw down a dunk over him in the third quarter, something changed.
“I feel like when [Jonathan] Kuminga dunked on me, that got me going,”
Edwards admitted in his postgame press conference.
“When Kuminga dunked on me, that got me going.”
Anthony Edwards on what motivated him in the second half 👀 pic.twitter.com/QqzHfYpwAQ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 11, 2025
Rather than letting the moment shake his confidence, Edwards used it as fuel. From that point on, Edwards was unstoppable. He erupted for 15 points in the third quarter, attacking the rim with relentless aggression and knocking down tough jumpers. He carried that momentum into the fourth, adding 13 more points to finish with a game-high 36 points (13-for-28 FG), four rebounds, four assists, and one block.
His energy and shot-making propelled the Timberwolves to a 102-97 victory, giving them a 2-1 series lead over the Warriors.
To Kuminga’s credit, he had a stellar performance himself. The Warriors forward finished with 30 points (11-for-18 FG), six rebounds, three assists, and two blocks off the bench. His dunk over Edwards wasn’t just a highlight—it was a moment that nearly shifted the game in Golden State’s favor.
But in the end, it served as the exact motivation Edwards needed. With the Timberwolves now in control of the series, Edwards will look to carry his momentum into Game 4. Meanwhile, Kuminga and the Warriors will need to regroup, especially with Stephen Curry still sidelined due to a hamstring injury.
