GP2 guides Warriors to victory by stifling Edwards in crunch time

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GP2 guides Warriors to victory by stifling Edwards in crunch time originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – With the Warriors leading by six and less than 10 minutes remaining, the streaking Minnesota Timberwolves called upon their firebrand leader. Anthony Edwards strolled to the scorer’s table with one job: Take his team to the finish line.

The Warriors immediately countered, summoning Gary Payton II. The defensive specialist checked in for one purpose: Do not let Edwards take his team home.

Payton succeeded at platinum level. Diving inside Edwards’ jersey, GP2 created much of the pressure that suffocated Minnesota’s offense down the stretch Sunday night, allowing the Warriors to walk off the Chase Center floor with a stirring 114-106 victory.

“They were aggressive on him,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said of the Payton-led defense on Edwards.

That aggression was cranked to optimal when it had to be. The Warriors had seen Edwards’ work two nights earlier, when he scorched them for 30 points – 11 in the fourth quarter – in a 107-90 victory. They did not care to see an encore.

“Ant is an incredible player,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of Edwards. “Late in the third quarter, he had it rolling. At that point, it’s just put your best defender on him. You don’t really want to send a double team because you got other guys knocking down shots . . . we just wanted Gary to play him straight up, give him some help in the gaps, trying to make things crowded without double-teaming.”

With Payton as the primary defender throughout, Edwards picked his spots and was effective for three quarters, scoring 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Payton’s primary impact was forcing turnovers, as Edwards committed four through three quarters.

Edwards’ fourth quarter, however, was one he’d like to forget. Payton victimized him for a steal 24 seconds after subbing in and another with 1:01 remaining that led to a Buddy Hield 3-pointer to give the Warriors a 112-106 lead. In addition to the two late turnovers, Edwards was 1-of-7 from the field in the…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/gp2-guides-warriors-victory-stifling-065524522.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2024-12-09 06:55:00

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