NBA PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT: TIMBERWOLVES vs CLIPPERS

April 12, 2022

Pat Beverley

Anthony Edwards

Minnesota Timberwolves

Postgame Press Conference

Timberwolves 109, Clippers 104

Q. Pat, the game comes to an end and the celebration ensues and it seems like you were feeling some emotions. Can you take us through what you were feeling in that moment and what's going through your head right there?

PAT BEVERLEY: Man, we played a really good team. I'm going to try to sound real humble, but I know that's going to leave in about two seconds. We played a real good team, good coach. Obviously emotions behind it, former team.

I wanted this so bad. I wanted this one so bad. This is just the icing on the cake, the cherry on top, play-in to be able to beat them. It means another goal scratched off. I told you we was going to the Playoffs. Everybody most of all of y'all looked at me like I was crazy when I first said that. I fucking told you all.

Q. The way you guys weathered all sorts of different storms within the game, what did it take for you guys to pull that all together to get through each obstacle and get to the end and get over the hump?

PAT BEVERLEY: It's coaching, all coaching. I give Finchy a lot of credit; he put us in a position to be successful tonight.

Like I say, Playoffs is when stars are made. This young man I told him before the game, man, like a veteran Francisco Garcia told me 10 years ago my first playoff game, you're going to be very special in this league, and I told him the same thing and he came out here, man. I was so proud of Ant. Came out here, responded well, KAT fouled out, 20-year old took over the game. So proud of him.

Q. Ant, you've said you're made for these moments. Can you take us through what you're feeling now just to be able to deliver, help deliver a win like this and what jumping on the scorer's table, seeing the crowd and everything you're feeling?

ANTHONY EDWARDS: I put the work in. That's all I can say. It's over now. We've got to get ready for Memphis. We play Saturday.

Q. Did you just sense that you needed to take the game at one point there?

ANTHONY EDWARDS: I took what the game gave me, and that's what they gave me. They were scared to guard me, and I took advantage of that.

Q. It's not easy for your star player to be in foul trouble for a lot of the game. How were you guys able to respond to that when that maybe might rattle some teams?

ANTHONY EDWARDS: We've got players like D'Angelo Russell that can take over the game and score the ball at a very high level. When KAT fouled out, I think D'Lo took it upon himself to keep us in the game.

Q. Pat, what did you think of the entire team's defensive effort tonight?

PAT BEVERLEY: Yeah, that's what we've been doing all year. We've been -- our coaching staff put us in a position to be successful, especially the defensive schemes. Obviously everyone wasn't perfect, but man, you could tell it was just will tonight. It was just will. We just wanted it more. We went out there, we competed, we didn't care who shot the ball, we didn't care what the stats were, and the better team won today.

Q. Pretty historical imagery in the Minnesota franchises, Kevin Garnett standing on that same table that you two did. Was that on your mind when you did that, and just kind of this new era that you guys are in?

ANTHONY EDWARDS: I ain't going to lie, that's been on my mind since I figured we were playing them. All I've been going to sleep is saying I'm going to hit the game-winning shot and I'm going to go jump on the table.

PAT BEVERLEY: I promise you that was my thing when I woke up today. I'm going to stand on that side of the scoreboard today. Yeah. For sure.

Q. Ant, it was a mixture of the attacking and the three-point shots. When you have the ball in your hands there, how does that decision-making process go?

PAT BEVERLEY: No one can guard him. I've been telling him that all year. I don't care who plays him. I done seen the best defensive guys. I'm one of the best defensive guys on earth. No one can guard him, and I just keep preaching that, preaching that to him, and he's been doing it all season, so credit to him, credit to his hard work, credit to his patience.

Obviously we have Karl-Anthony Towns who we feature a lot, so credit to his patience at a young age, understanding the game, being patient, understanding when to attack. KAT fouled out, him and D'Lo took over the game. Our young core, man, those three guys, man, we're going to be here for a while.

So I'm very excited. I didn't mean to interrupt his questions, but I see the boy, he puts in a lot of work, fellas. Ladies, too. He puts in a lot of work. One of the first guys in the beginning of the year in the gym. It's time to go home, he's the last one in, he comes at night. He brings his dog in there, he's in there.

So you've got to give a lot of credit. This is our star and this is his moment. He deserves all of it. This is his moment.

My bad.

Q. This game had kind of everything that might have derailed this team in the past, whether it be foul trouble, officiating --

PAT BEVERLEY: What you mean the past? Fix that question. What do you mean past?

Q. Early in the season and last year. Fourth quarter comebacks from another team. What does this say about the mental makeup of this team and where you are now and the growth that you've made in a moment like able to get put things behind you?

ANTHONY EDWARDS: I'm going to keep it short and simple. I just think Finchy coached his ass off. That's the best thing I can tell you. Finchy did a great job, like Pat said. Coach of the Year.

Q. Pat, what did you say to your old teammates at the end there when you were standing in front of the bench?

PAT BEVERLEY: Take their ass home. Long flight to LA, take y'all ass home. It's deeper than that for me. I gave my blood and sweat and tears to that organization. You guys know the story, especially you. Blood, sweat and tears, to just be written off like that, oh, he's injury prone, he's old, this, this, that, that. To be able to come here, play them in a play-in, beat their ass, no other feeling, man. No other feeling.

Q. On a side note, did you even know what was going on when that lady ran on to the court?

PAT BEVERLEY: I tried to help her. I just tried to help her, wanted to make sure she was okay. Pray for her, too, make sure she's okay.

Q. Did you know that she glued herself to the court?

PAT BEVERLEY: That's not my -- I don't know what's going on. I just pray that she's okay.

Q. Ant, you touched on it a moment ago, but going from your rookie year to this year and just the change you guys have been able to make, what do you think has just kind of been the catalyst to all of that?

ANTHONY EDWARDS: Like Pat said, I put in a lot of work. Summertime, still now, I'm in there every night. Every night, 9:30, 10:30, doesn't matter what time it is, me and my trainer go in there every night, get a lot of shots up. Sometimes we may go too hard, but there's no such thing.

PAT BEVERLEY: Say whassup! We're going to the playoffs! (Pat Beverley takes selfie with Ant.)