ANT-MAN'S HEROICS NULLIFY NUGGETS

Edwards scores play-off career-high 43pts in Denver to give Timberwolves I-O lead

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The Minnesota Timberwolves' trust in one another was plain to see in their impressive 106-99 National Basketball Association (NBA) victory over defending champions Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of their Western Conference semi-final series on May 4.

Anthony Edwards shone in particular, scoring a play-off careerhigh 43 points at Ball Arena. The guard made 17 of 29 shots from the floor, three of seven from threepoint range, and all six free throws for his third career 40-point playoff game.

"The whole team, we trust each other. It doesn't matter down the stretch who takes the shot. My teammates trust me in every position in critical moments in the game. I try to come through for them," said the 22-year-old, after Minnesota took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, which continues on May 6 in Denver.

"He has done a good job of finding us late in games and giving us confidence," Mike Conley said of Edwards, nicknamed "Ant-Man".

Karl-Anthony Towns tallied 20 points, Naz Reid scored 14 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter, Conley had 14 points and 10 assists and Rudy Gobert grabbed 13 rebounds for Minnesota, who pulled away to begin the post-season 5-0.