In a thrilling game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards of the Timberwolves lauded Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the NBA’s MVP after the Thunder secured a 113-105 victory. Gilgeous-Alexander was nothing short of sensational, scoring 40 points for the third time in five games, including an incredible 19-point outburst in the third quarter, which helped propel Oklahoma City to its 12th consecutive win.
The victory marked a significant achievement for the Thunder, pushing their record to an impressive 27-5 for the season. Besides Gilgeous-Alexander’s dominant performance, Isaiah Hartenstein played a key role, contributing with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Lu Dort and Jalen Williams each added 14 points. Despite a sluggish start, the Thunder's defense came alive in the second half, forcing 24 turnovers, including 16 steals, to seal the win.
On the other side, Edwards, who finished the game with 20 points and seven rebounds, did his best to keep Minnesota in the contest. However, the Timberwolves struggled to regain momentum after Gilgeous-Alexander's third-quarter explosion. Edwards, who had been playing brilliantly, acknowledged the difficulty of guarding the Thunder star and praised him for his exceptional talent. "He's unguardable... you got to trap him... send a second body," Edwards said, highlighting Gilgeous-Alexander's remarkable ability to excel in one-on-one matchups.
Last season, Gilgeous-Alexander narrowly missed out on the MVP award, finishing second behind Nikola Jokić. But Edwards believes that this year could be different. He expressed his admiration for Gilgeous-Alexander’s consistency, noting that the Thunder’s star guard has been performing at a high level every night. "I don't know if they could give it to [Jokić] again," Edwards remarked. "Yeah, I would say Shai...he's consistent every night." Edwards also emphasized that Gilgeous-Alexander's ability to take control of the game and deliver when needed is one of his standout qualities.
“If he’s keeping him like that, I hope they give [MVP] to him this year for sure,” Edwards said, signaling that the Timberwolves star believes this could finally be the year Gilgeous-Alexander takes home the MVP trophy.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP candidacy continues to gain momentum as he maintains his high level of play throughout the season, and Edwards’ endorsement only adds to the growing buzz surrounding the 25-year-old guard’s chances for the prestigious award. The game also highlighted the growing rivalry between two of the NBA’s young stars, with Gilgeous-Alexander continuing to cement himself as one of the league’s top players and Edwards, too, making a name for himself with the Timberwolves.
