Anthony Edwards destroys Jaxson Hayes with insane poster dunk! [VIDEO]
Ant-Man’s Thunderous Dunk Ignites Timberwolves in Game 2
Anthony Edwards just turned Crypto.com Arena into a highlight reel.
In the third quarter of Game 2 between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers, with 10 seconds left on the shot clock, Edwards delivered a vicious one-handed poster dunk over Lakers center Jaxson Hayes. The Timberwolves, trailing 58-43 but up 1-0 in the playoff series, created momentum from Edwards’ electrifying slam to further solidify their dominance. The dunk instantly became the moment of the night—maybe even of the playoffs.
The clip, shared by @TheHoopCentral on X just minutes after it happened, already has nearly 100K views and counting. It features Edwards in the Timberwolves’ white No. 5 jersey driving to the rim with ferocity, rising above Hayes—who wore No. 11—and finishing with authority. The crowd erupted. So did the Timberwolves bench. So did the internet.
Reactions from NBA Twitter:
The X timeline exploded with raw emotion:
@PrivilegedAlex: “ANT MAN ANT MAN”
@qutballin: “Ant dunks like prime T-Mac, so damn crispy 😱”
@FreddyT1984: “He is down by double fing digits. Who gives an actual f.”
@NSH_Jr: “Shitted on em😂😂”
@Thee_Unknown420: “WHAT A POSTER”
@AntWlr: “HAYES WHY’D YOU JUMP BOZO”
Even fans from rival teams couldn’t help but respect the moment. The comparisons to Tracy McGrady, vintage Vince Carter, and even prime Derrick Rose flooded the replies. With Edwards now in his fifth season, he’s quickly becoming known as one of the game’s best dunkers. Tonight, Ant-Man put the league on notice, once again.
TNT Broadcast Team Reacts
Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller nearly lost their minds on the TNT broadcast. Harlan, always known for his animated play-by-play, calmy exclaimed: “WHOOOH! HE GOT UP THERE!” as Edwards detonated on Hayes. Reggie Miller followed with stunned, quiet laughter. While the Lakers maintained their double-digit lead, Edwards had all of the attention.
As the replay rolled, analysts highlighted Edwards’ explosive first step, hang time, and the fearlessness to rise up over a 6-foot-11 rim protector. Edwards has continued establishing himself as the future star of the NBA. A year ago, as Ant-Man led Minnesota to only its second-ever trip to the Western Conference Finals, he had a hilarious exchange with Charles Barkley.
Clearly, with both his personality and his play, Edwards is a star in the NBA.
Why This Dunk Matters
This wasn’t just a highlight. It was a momentum-swinging statement. The Timberwolves have been dominated by the Lakers through the first two quarters, but Edwards’ dunk punctured the dynamic of the game. It is a dunk that looks like it could shift the series dynamic. Already up 1-0 in the best-of-seven series, this type of moment adds to Edwards’ growing reputation as one of the NBA’s brightest young stars—a playoff performer who lives for the big stage.
Also, a win tonight in Los Angeles is comparative to the Timberwolves last season. In the second round, they faced the defending champion Denver Nuggets. When the Wolves won Game 1 in Denver, most casual fans and critics wrote them off. Then, they won Game 2 in Denver. While the Nuggets managed to go undefeated in Minnesota in their home games and take a 3-2 lead, it was obvious. Minnesota would dethrone Denver. Tonight, Ant-Man’s dunk created the same kind of energy.
It was also symbolic. Poster dunks have a way of defining a postseason run. Just ask Baron Davis or LeBron James. And now, Ant-Man might be next in line.
Edwards Building His Legend
This isn’t Anthony Edwards’ first jaw-dropping moment. He’s delivered windmills, baseline slams, and chasedown blocks throughout the regular season. But the playoffs are a different beast, and tonight, he proved he’s built for it.
After the dunk, Edwards showed his signature intensity, letting out a primal scream as teammates swarmed him. There were no words needed—just the look of a young superstar putting the NBA on notice.
Last year, Anthony Edwards was the NBA’s breakout star. The 2024 NBA Playoffs were where he made himself into a household name. For a while, it looked like he’d lead Minnesota to their franchise’s first championship. However, they ran out of steam against the Dallas Mavericks.
Edwards’ stellar play continued into the 2025 campaign. However, his longtime running mate, Karl-Anthony Towns was traded in favor of Julius Randle. Between injuries and chemistry, the Wolves struggled for most of the season. But Edwards and Randle jelled, leading to a 17-4 close to the season, resulting in a 49-33 record, the sixth seed, and a Game 1 win over the Lakers and this Game 2 dunk.
What’s Next
As of this moment, the game is ongoing, but the energy from that dunk lingers. The Timberwolves will need to pull it together quickly. While Edwards is clearly feeling himself, the Lakers are up 85-72, as of press time. With it being early in the third quarter, the Timberwolves have time. However, the scoreboard and the psychological edge. They also have the advantage with nine minutes to go.
Fans, analysts, and players will be talking about this dunk all night. And if the Timberwolves go on a deep run, it could go down as the moment that shifted the 2025 postseason narrative. However, they have only a short amount of time to pull themselves out of this hole. Granted, the Game 1 win was enough to give the Wolves the advantage, they’d love to get two wins in Los Angeles.
Tonight, Anthony Edwards is going to have to do more than dunk. If he doesn’t, the Timberwolves could find themselves in a situation similar to last year. Definitely, win or lose, Ant-Man is going to play his heart out. After all, that’s just who he is. Last year, he planted his flag as a true force in the league. In his first deep playoff run, he broke records set by Kobe Bryant. Now, he’s playing Kobe’s former team. This team is one Minnesota has never beaten in a playoff series. That’s added incentive.
Edwards is no longer just a highlight machine. He’s a playoff problem—and tonight, Jaxson Hayes found out the hard way.