Timberwolves' Edwards: Smaller lineups are better for me

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Stephen Maturen / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard Anthony Edwards is still adapting to the team's dual-center look.

"The smaller we go, the better it is for me,” Edwards said after the Timberwolves' 132-126 overtime loss to the Utah Jazz on Friday, according to The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski.

Minnesota went all-in on size this summer, pairing All-Star centers Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert while shifting Towns to power forward. Edwards' comments seemed to contradict that plan, but he's confident he'll soon be more comfortable with bigger lineups.

"Gotta figure it out, like I said," Edwards said. "It's the little things. I'm gonna figure it out. It won't take long."

The third-year guard scored 30 points on 12-of-23 shooting in the loss, bouncing back from his 11-point, 4-of-17 shooting performance in Minnesota's season-opening victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Despite that strong showing, Edwards didn't attempt a shot in overtime as Utah outscored Minnesota 12-6 in the extra frame.

"It's on me. I have to get him the ball more," Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said. "We ran a couple things to get the ball in his hands. And then, again, the ball got sticky. We tried to play through KAT there. But he's got to get some looks. That's on me."

Edwards, for his part, said he didn't mind the team featuring Towns more than him down the stretch.

"I'm cool. Put it in KAT's hands. I trust him," he said. "(Finch) did the right thing."

Edwards showed signs of growth last season, improving his scoring and efficiency from his rookie campaign before averaging 25.2 points per game on 60.4% true shooting in the playoffs. The 21-year-old is looking to lead Minnesota to its second consecutive postseason appearance, something the franchise hasn't accomplished since 2004.

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