Anthony Edwards singles out an X-Factor player in the series vs Denver / News - Basketnews.com

Edwards says Jaden McDaniels is the X-Factor of the Timberwolves team and they wouldn't be the team they are without him, even though McDaniels scored just 5 points and made only two shots in 14 attempts in the first two games of the series.

Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports - Scanpix Credit Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports - Scanpix

After the Minnesota Timberwolves won both games in Denver against the Nuggets to start the Western Conference Semifinal series, Anthony Edwards wanted to give attention to one of his teammates he thinks is crucial in the series.

Player of the Game EFF 32 Karl-Anthony Towns Points 27 Accuracy 10-15 Rebounds 12 Assists 1

Edwards is averaging a whopping 35 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game in this series. Minnesota's Jaden McDaniels has scored just 5 combined points in the two matchups but received tremendous praise from the team's leader.

"I want to shout out Jaden McDaniels before I get out of here. He's been phenomenal this whole playoff run and this series in particular. I think he's like +51 or something and only probably had five points, took three shots in all two games. Don't complain, keep guarding, keep picking up full-court," Edwards said in the post-game press conference.

In the first two games of the series, McDaniels made just two shots in 14 attempts but had a combined plus-minus of +40. He played 39 minutes in Game 1.

"We wouldn't be the team that we are today, we wouldn't have been that team that we were in the regular season [without him]. Hopefully, we can keep him out there and he keeps playing like that because he's definitely the x-factor of the team," Edwards proclaimed. "Everything that he brings, we thank him so much. So, big shoutout to Jaden, for sure."

Game 3 between Minnesota and Denver is scheduled for Friday, May 10th, at 9:30 PM EST.

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