Anthony Edwards

Requiring only a single, opening-game possession to percolate into a heatwave befitting of the Wild West, Anthony Edwards — in a rematch of last spring’s Conference Finals — fittingly introduced the Dallas Mavericks to a maneuver so quick, they might’ve needed to see it twice. As demonstrative as one could be on a game’s first play, Edwards uses first a series of nifty between-the-leg dribbles to spring free of an isolation against Klay Thompson, clearing his right-sided driving path. Elusive enough to then gather through the closing elevator doors of Dallas’ quickly-arriving double team, the electric two-guard works a magical, acrobatic scoop finish across the rim’s other side, opening the Minnesota Timberwolves’ scoring. Pairing his patented, jaw-dropping at-the-rim finishes with a noticeably-refined pull-up and 3-point-heavy shot diet, Edwards dazzled his way into a 24-point opening quarter, No. 1 in the Target Center’s 34-year history. Dallas would overcome Minnesota’s motivations for a competitive victory on October 29, 2024, but Edwards, excellent per usual, conjured up a 37-point finish (on 12-of-20 shooting), paired with six rebounds, three assists, one block, and seven 3-pointers.