The Minnesota Timberwolves are officially rolling, and Anthony Edwards is the undisputed driving force behind their surge. Returning from the All-Star break with his newly minted All-Star Game MVP award in hand, Edwards put on an absolute masterclass against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, February 20, 2026, leading the Timberwolves to a 122-111 victory.
A Stat Line for the Ages
Edwards was virtually unstoppable on his home court at the Target Center. The 24-year-old superstar stuffed the stat sheet with:
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40 Points
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6 Rebounds
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5 Three-Pointers Made (shooting 16-for-30 from the field overall)
But here is the most impressive part: With this incredible performance, Edwards officially tied Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic for the most 40-point games in the NBA this season, with both players currently sitting at eight.
The Fourth-Quarter Takeover
The Timberwolves came out of the gates absolutely on fire, burying eight three-pointers in a 40-point first quarter and building a 17-point lead late in the second quarter. However, the Mavericks refused to roll over easily.
Despite being heavily shorthanded, Dallas clawed their way back into the game with a gritty 12-2 run in the fourth quarter, tying the game at 103-103 with just 6:55 remaining. That is when “Ant-Man” decided it was time to close the show. Edwards took complete control down the stretch, answering the Mavericks’ run with a crucial step-back three-pointer and pouring in 14 points in the final frame alone. The Timberwolves closed the game on an 11-4 run to seal the win.
Edwards had plenty of help, too. Rudy Gobert was a monster in the paint, posting a massive double-double with 22 points, 17 rebounds, and three blocks. Naz Reid provided a huge spark off the bench with 21 points, including a highlight-reel thunderous slam over Daniel Gafford.
A Bold Post-Game Declaration
After securing their third consecutive win, Edwards was in high spirits and made a massive statement about his expectations for the rest of the regular season.
When asked about the team’s mindset moving forward, Edwards confidently declared, “We got 25 more [games] hopefully we can go 25-0”. With the Timberwolves now sitting comfortably as the 5th seed in a highly competitive Western Conference (35-22 record), his confidence might just be the exact energy Minnesota needs to make a deep playoff run.
The Struggling Mavericks
On the flip side, the Dallas Mavericks are in a complete freefall. This 122-111 defeat marks their 10th consecutive loss—their longest and worst losing streak since the 1997-98 season.
Injuries have absolutely decimated their roster. Dallas was once again playing without star rookie Cooper Flagg, who missed the game (and All-Star weekend) with a sprained foot. They are also missing Max Christie to an ankle injury, while superstars Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II have both been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Despite 18 points from Khris Middleton and a 15-point, 13-rebound double-double from Marvin Bagley III, the Mavericks simply didn’t have the firepower to keep up with Edwards in clutch time.
