NBA Cup action kicked off last Friday and Minnesota handled business against a mediocre Utah Jazz team. They then got to see the same outfit on Monday and the result was the same. Former Timberwolves big man Kevin Love saw what was coming from the jump.

MN Timberwolves made things tough for Kevin Love’s new team

After spending 2.5 seasons in Miami with the Heat, Kevin Love signed with the Utah Jazz this offseason. Now in his 18th year, the 37-year-old has seen some things. He knows enough to see when an onslaught is coming, and he predicted it on Friday night.

This is what stars do. This is what leaders do. This is who Edwards, in his sixth season, has become. On a team filled with quieter personalities, Edwards is the blue flame that lights the water heater. Target Center is never louder than when Edwards is rolling. The Wolves are never more dangerous than when Edwards is on the hunt.

During that opening flurry, 18-year NBA veteran Kevin Love was watching from the Jazz bench.

“I looked at the rest of the guys and said we’re in for a long night,” Love said.

The Athletic

A long night probably wasn’t quite foreshadowing enough. The game in question resulted with a 40-point Timberwolves win. It was more of a statement than even the obnoxious green court they were playing on. Love played just three minutes but still logged a minus-6.

Anthony Edwards Return vs Jazz (11.7.25)
• 37 points/12-21 (57.1%)
• 1 assist
• 5 rebounds
• 1 steal
• 1 block
• 66.9% (TS%) pic.twitter.com/8yuHnVHUd8

— SLiDE (@slidewrldd) November 9, 2025

Edwards on the other hand, who logged a plus-32 in just 26 minutes, poured in 37 points. After missing four games, Edwards needed to get his legs back under him. That didn’t happen against the New York Knicks, but it played out in a big way against the Jazz.

Utah saw the same results repeat themselves on Monday night when Minnesota won by just seven points. It was a road game, but Edwards poured in 35 on 52% shooting.

As Love alluded to, it’s Edwards that is the difference maker for the Timberwolves. When the 24-year-old is on, he generates the level of hype only elite superstars can produce. Minnesota is hoping he can be on more often than not as they seek an opportunity to reach the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.

Love has been around the league long enough to understand game flow. Chris Finch will try to generate positive momentum plenty for the Minnesota Timberwolves this season. If Edwards is playing at his best, then it wouldn’t be shocking to see him pick up his first MVP award along the way.

2018 Minnesota Timberwolves’ All-Stars:

• • Jimmy Butler (SG) – 4x selection
  • Karl-Anthony Towns (C) – 1x selection
  • Andrew Wiggins (SF) – 1x selection

On Tuesday night, it was announced that Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns are 2018 NBA All-Stars. As for Andrew Wiggins, the third member of MN’s talented trio, he was left off of this year’s roster.

.@KarlTowns and @JimmyButler are 2018 NBA All-Stars! #AllEyesNorth

More » https://t.co/OIzJvfnNxi pic.twitter.com/xUrUpXPEIq

— Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) January 24, 2018

Before the start of this season, there was an envisioned scenario where the Wolves would send a hat-trick worth of players to the Los Angeles hosted event. As the old saying goes, basketball fans who were recently beggars, shouldn’t be choosers. Prior to this year, Minnesota hadn’t had an All-Star since Kevin Love, in 2014. On top of that, Butler and KAT will be the first pair of Wolves playing in the game in 14 years (KG & Cassell – ’04).

Jimmy Butler

In gesundheit fashion, Jimmy is a blessing. On Monday, it had been exactly seven months since the blockbuster trade that brought the now 4x All-Star to MN. We’re only in January, and the Timberwolves have already matched their win total from last season (31). Inquiring as to the biggest reason for the vast improvement would be rhetorical.

If charisma was an attribute on 2K, Jimmy Butler, the Wolves’ leading scorer, would be a 99.

Karl-Anthony Towns

Let’s go! Unlike ripping a set at the gym (did I phrase that right, bro?), the first All-Star selection is the hardest. What do you think? Is he about to rattle off more or less than 10 of these honors in a row?

Entering Wednesday’s contest vs. Portland, Towns is shooting 53.7% from the field, while averaging 20.0 PPG and 12.1 RPG this season. As for his career, outside of Shaq, ZERO other 22 year-olds in the HISTORY of the association have had a combination points & rebounds as impressive as KAT. That’s correct. The Timberwolves’ most valuable asset takes a back seat to no one other than  f*cken Shaq. He is even using the big fella’s catch phrases:

Towns follows up his poster by looking straight at Shaq and declaring Corey Brewer “BARBECUE CHICKEN”. This is a burial. ?⚰️ pic.twitter.com/Us0kx2GnuU

— Rob Perez (@World_Wide_Wob) December 26, 2017

Andrew Wiggins
Minnesota’s near $150 million man will have to wait at least another year to get his first ASG under his belt. Don’t get me wrong. Heading into Tuesday’s reserves announcement, Wiggins’ name wasn’t expected to be called. This isn’t a Harrison Smith type snub (even though Smith is now going to the NFL’s joke version of an All-Star game).

Anywho, as mentioned earlier in this article, prior to the season, envisioning the Canuck native making it was more than reasonable. Maple Jordan will break through the ice eventually. Hopefully, his proverbial auger reaches water sooner, rather than later.

The Pro Bowl’s more popular, better organized cousin will take place on February 18th. My personal favorite, All Star Saturday night, which features the skills challenge, 3 point, and slam dunk contests is scheduled for the 17th.

ASG Participants:

Prior to this season, the NBA All-Star Game’s format was a conference battle between the West and the East. This season, with Lebron James and Steph Curry with the shot boi, as Captains, they’re going school-yard rules. The two players with the most fan votes in each conference will draft teams.

Unfortunately, the draft won’t be televised. As much as I’d love to see all of that play out live (Will Lebron take former teammate Kyrie Irving early or pass over him?), I get the NBA’s approach. There is too much at stake. Unlike elementary school recess, the total net-worth of this draft pool is billions of dollars.

The two teams will be announced on Thursday evening.

Johnny Minnesota @TheJohnnyMN
Minnesota Sports Fan MinnesotaSportsFan.com