Edwards is not Wolverine, but his determination to win surpasses everything.

The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets on the road, overcoming a 19-point deficit at the start and Edwards playing through injury in a desperate situation, tying the series score and delivering an incredible performance. After watching this game, only respect remains for Edwards.

Edwards has been troubled by "runner's knee" for some time. Warriors fans are familiar with this term; Curry missed a long period due to runner's knee. This injury involves inflammation, swelling, and pain—not a major injury that destroys the knee quickly, but the trouble lies in its persistent pain, which does not disappear in a short time.

If it were the regular season, Edwards would likely have rested longer, but in the playoffs, he chose to return in Game 1. He scored 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists in the first game. The Timberwolves battled the Nuggets for half the game before collapsing in the third quarter.

The first half of today's game was dramatic. The Nuggets started with unparalleled offense, Murray and Hardaway consecutively completed 3+1 plays. The Nuggets kept rolling, leading 39-25 by the first quarter, a 14-point advantage. It seemed they would finish the Timberwolves quickly, but the Timberwolves were far from surrendering easily.

Like a mirror image, the Timberwolves also scored 39-25 in the second quarter, gaining a 14-point net advantage to tie the Nuggets. Edwards gave almost everything in this quarter, including his knee. He played the entire second quarter, shooting 7 for 4 with 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 block. When their set offense stalled, the Timberwolves pushed pace for fast breaks, and Edwards hit two crucial three-pointers.

The Nuggets still faced their old issue this season: relaxing after gaining a lead. The Timberwolves erased the deficit in just half a quarter, handing the game rhythm to the Timberwolves. Jokic only took 6 shots in the first half, starting to exert himself with 16 points in the third quarter, but the Timberwolves' resilience was already unbreakable.

In the final quarter, Jokic and Murray had a disastrous performance. Murray's struggles could be attributed to complete exhaustion, shooting 5 for 1. But Jokic, who rested early in the fourth, returned and shot 7 for 1, repeatedly stopped by Gobert's solo defense, and by the end, he dared not shoot the tying shot against Edwards.

Edwards also shot only 4 for 1 in the fourth quarter, missing all three long-range attempts, but other Timberwolves decided the game. DiVincenzo's key three-pointer and perfect defense on Murray; Gobert's DPOY-level defense on Jokic and crucial put-back dunk; Randle's two free throws.

This 19-point comeback is the Timberwolves' second-largest playoff comeback in team history. What's the largest? The 20-point comeback in Game 7 against the Nuggets in 2024. This game was almost identical: the Nuggets squandered a 20-point lead, and the Timberwolves erupted collectively to complete the reversal.

Jokic's performance is unforgivable. He lacked offensive aggression throughout the first half, expecting teammates to solve everything. When needed in the fourth quarter, he shot 7 for 1. The Timberwolves dominated in second-chance points and interior scoring, and Jokic bears undeniable responsibility.

Edwards played this game almost as if it were the last of the season. He opened with a declarative three-pointer. In the second quarter, when the Timberwolves trailed by 19 points, his step-back three-pointer and layup scored five consecutive points, sounding the rallying cry for the pack.

I noticed that when Edwards' knee limited his explosiveness, he instead displayed excellent footwork control. On the perimeter, he used step-back moves to evade defenders; inside, facing double teams, he executed up-and-under moves for easy layups.

Early in the game, Edwards' knee collided with Jokic, and he kept adjusting it afterward. His various jumps and efforts on court showed his knee was definitely not 100%. Before the game, he received injections to reduce swelling and inflammation.

Previously watching Edwards play, people focused on his first-step burst speed, his jumping height, and his spectacular aerial dunks. But today, every time he jumped, I instinctively checked his condition after landing. Each contact jump made viewers hold their breath.

Edwards is not Wolverine. Since entering the league, Edwards might be helpless against injury for the first time. He could only adjust his body to a playable state, disregard future concerns, and in battling injury, his determination to win surpassed everything.

Playing through injury, Edwards logged 40 minutes, shooting 25 for 10, 3 for 11 from three-point range, and 7 for 9 from free throws, totaling 30 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. His shooting efficiency wasn't outstanding, but without his second-quarter counterattack, the Timberwolves might have been blown out early. His two blocks risked his knee, disregarding everything.

Fighting with the wolf pack, no one escapes unscathed. Even facing an injured wolf king, don't expect an easy pass. In this series, the team with home-court advantage now is the Timberwolves.