Anthony Edwards hits go-ahead three late as Timberwolves overcome Chris Finch’s ejection to top Thunder

Anthony Edwards tried to down play that the Timberwolves’ 112-107 victory over the Thunder on Friday night was just another game in a long regular season.

“I mean, it was one game,” Edwards said. “And they coming off a back-to-back, so it was like everything was in our favor.”

But it is never just another game when the Wolves play the Thunder, the team that eliminated the Wolves from the playoffs last season, a team that gets under the collective skin of Edwards and the entire Wolves team. Just look at coach Chris Finch’s ejection for proof.

It was also no coincidence Edwards made his return after missing three games because of a right foot injury, something he confirmed was his plan all week. A Wolves team that sometimes lack the necessary motivation on given nights in the regular season rarely fails to meet the moment against Oklahoma City, and that proved true again.

They handed the defending champion Thunder only their third loss in 28 games this season, with Edwards, who scored 26 points in 41 minutes, providing the decisive blows.

After Rudy Gobert tapped out a free-throw miss from Julius Randle, the ball came to Edwards for a stepback three over Cason Wallace to give the Wolves a 108-107 lead with 38.5 seconds remaining. Then Edwards stole the ball from reigning MVP Shai Gilegous-Alexander (35 points) with 1.1 seconds remaining and the Wolves up three to seal the victory, as the Wolves scored the final eight points of the game.

“I’m not passing the ball. I knew it was going up. When it left my hand, I knew it was going in,” Edwards said of his last shot. “[Wallace] played great defense. It was a tough shot. But I probably shoot that shot 1,000 times in a week when I’m in the gym, so it felt like a natural shot.”

“That fueled a lot of fire in us,” said forward Naz Reid, who had 15 points. “It was exciting to see. Obviously he was into the game, so I don’t think it was a stunt. Stuff like that, you want to fight for someone who is fighting for you.”

The Wolves fought the rest of the night. They overcame a 12-point Thunder lead in the first half to scrape together a small lead most of the fourth quarter. Even though they shot just 38% against the grinding Thunder defense, they matched Oklahoma City on that end of the floor; the Thunder shot just 37%. Jaden McDaniels, who had the responsibility of guarding Gilgeous-Alexander most of the night, held him to 12-for-26, and the Wolves felt glad that he only went to the free-throw line eight times.

“I think the one thing about this ball club, meaning, OKC, obviously, very good basketball team, but we’re comfortable playing them,” said assistant Micah Nori, who took over head coaching duties after Finch’s ejection. “We match up well with them, and they don’t do anything that we didn’t see in the Western Conference finals.”

BOXSCORE: Wolves 112, Oklahoma City 107

NBA standings

The Wolves don’t win this game without Gobert and his nine points and 15 rebounds (seven on the offensive end). He didn’t get credit on the most important offensive rebound of the night — his tap out to set up Edwards’ three. That went to DiVincenzo, who then made the pass to Edwards.

“It takes us to another level,” Edwards said of Gobert’s night. “I tell him all the time, ‘When you come play like that, I don’t think nobody can beat us.’ ”