Anthony Edwards scored 23 points in the game but fouled out with 10 seconds remaining while defending Brandon Ingram on the perimeter. Ingram missed one of his two free throws, giving Karl-Anthony Towns the opportunity to put the Minnesota Timberwolves in the lead.
Despite a chance for the New Orleans Pelicans to win the game, Ingram, who had a game-high 30 points, missed a mid-range jumper under defensive pressure from Jaden McDaniels. This marked a challenging closing stretch for Ingram, who only made one shot and had two turnovers in the fourth quarter.
After the game, Edwards, who had a notable chasedown block on Dyson Daniels, openly praised McDaniels’ defensive skills, stating, “When we realized it was an iso, it was over with.”
McDaniels, aged 23, has rapidly become a standout all-around defender in the NBA and narrowly missed making one of the two All-Defensive teams in the 2022-23 season. With a combination of length and athleticism, the former first-round pick has become a crucial member of the Timberwolves on the wing.
During the previous season, McDaniels averaged 12.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, shooting a career-best 39.8 percent from three-point range. Notably, he was the only player in the league to record at least 75 blocks and 70 steals. Although his scoring has decreased to 10 points per game this year, McDaniels’ defensive performance has reached new heights.
