He jumped so high to dunk over John Collins that he dislocated his finger on the way down. He got up with such force to block a potential game-tying layup from Aaron Nesmith in Indiana last season that he hit his head on the rim. His latest display of airborne heroics felt different.
A throbbing calf that kept him on the sideline for much of the greatest regular-season comeback in Minnesota Timberwolves history prevented him from reaching the heights he normally does on the play. The Wolves were clinging to a lead with 15 seconds to play in overtime when Gilgeous-Alexander got the ball and set his sights on the rim.
He had scored 76 points against the Timberwolves over the last 23 hours and needed only to draw a foul and get to the line for free throws No. He may be the frontrunner for MVP of the league, a crafty and cutthroat scorer who tricks defenders into reaching, bumping and fouling him over and over again. The Timberwolves were determined not to let Gilgeous-Alexander spoil a magical comeback. They threw everything they had at him to overcome a point deficit early in the fourth quarter, including a point hole with to play.
So as SGA tried to turn the corner, Naz Reid hurled his entire 6-foot-9, pound body at him to try to throw him off course. Once Gilgeous-Alexander turned the corner, his cousin, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, was able to cut him off and turn him back to the left. Before he could save the day, the superhero needed to be saved himself. Edwards was just 5 of 15 from the field against the Thunder and missed five of his six 3-point attempts and four free throws. But something inside of Finch told him to wait just a little longer.
Every time he thought about pulling the plug, the group would chip away. Finch made a key defensive adjustment, throwing a ton of zone at the Thunder and blitzing SGA on the touch to force the ball out of his hands.
