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NBA Wrap: Anthony Edwards ‘killed a man’; Embiid’s 36-year first

The NBA has lost its mind after the number one pick in the 2020 Draft pulled off one of the plays of the year that has to be seen to be believed.

Andrew McMurtryAndrew McMurtry
@AndrewMcMurtry
2 min read
February 20, 2021 - 10:20PM
Anthony Edwards dropped an absolute bomb on the NBA.
Anthony Edwards dropped an absolute bomb on the NBA.

It is truly astounding what rookies in the NBA can do from the second they make the big show.

Number one pick at the 2020 draft Anthony Edwards has thrown down one of the plays of the year, throwing down an incredible dunk, finishing over the top of Toronto Raptors forward Yuta Watanabe.

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It was an insane moment that will dominate highlight reels for the rest of the season but has come on a shocker of a night for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Timberwolves lost 86-81 to the Raptors in a season that has been seeing most teams pass 100 points night win or lose.

It’s not too surprising with the Timberwolves currently sporting the worst record in the NBA.

Edwards shot just three from 14, after his three from 15 against the Pacers earlier in the week.

But the dunk was something special and paved over an otherwise horrible shooting performance.

It was late in the third quarter and Edwards got the ball in the corner but went for the dunk, landing on top of Watanabe

Social media lost its collective mind for the moment.

But post-match, Edwards wasn’t in the mood to talk about the slam.

“It was all right, but I didn’t make any shots,” Edwards said. “I don’t care about the dunk. I was hoping we were going to win. As a team, we didn’t make any shots. The dunk was great, but we didn’t make shots. We have to figure something out.”

EMBIID GOES AFTER MVP

Joel Embiid has piled on 50 points in the absence of Ben Simmons as the 76ers claimed a 112-105 win over the Chicago Bulls.

Already well in the conversation for the MVP award, Embiid went ballistic, becoming the first 76ers since Wilt Chamberlain in 1968 to score a 50/15/5 game and the first NBA player since 1985.

Joel Embiid is on fire.
Joel Embiid is on fire.

“We had to pull it off,” Embiid said after the game.

“If I am who I think I am, I’ve got to get the job done. That’s my job. That’s why they pay me.”

Despite his staggering numbers, Embiid claimed it was a team performance.

“It wasn’t a one-man effort. We all won together. My teammates found me, I found them, we shared the ball, and we actually played better D than we played the past couple games, which made me happy.

“It starts on defence, and I’m pretty happy with what we did on that end.”

Sixers teammate Tobias Harris added after the game: “I’ll tell my kids one day I was playing with Joel Embiid. When they ask who the best player I played with was, I’ll tell them Joel Embiid,” Harris said.

— with Fox Sports

Originally published as NBA Wrap: Anthony Edwards ‘killed a man’; Embiid’s 36-year first

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/american-sports/nba/nba-wrap-anthony-edwards-killed-a-man-embiids-36year-first/news-story/18b2ebca995d4e90b48392a435a60980