The Utah Jazz lost a game Monday night, but the only thing people will remember about the 114-104 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves is Anthony Edwards’ dunk against John Collins.
Here is the dunk from different angles:
Here’s the dunk in slow motion:
“It gives me chills, man, because I always dreamed of throwing myself at someone like that,” Edwards said. “Watching Vince Carter jump over someone…watching T-Mac, so I dreamed of diving on someone like that and that was my all-time favorite.”
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) drives to the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (10) goes up against him during a game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, 18 March 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) battles against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) during a game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 18, 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker (5) jumps for a shot while blocked by Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson (1) and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) during a game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 18. , 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) fights for the ball against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3), Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9) and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (10) during a game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 18, 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) jumps for a shot as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson (1) blocks it during a game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 18, 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton (2) battles against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) during a game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 18, 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) dunks the ball during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 18, 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) jumps to block Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) during a game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 18, 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker (5) is blocked by Minnesota Timberwolves center Luka Garza (55) as he drives to the basket during a game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 18 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Kris Dunn (11) celebrates a 3-pointer from Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton (2) during a game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 18, 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) jumps for a shot as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) jumps to block it during a game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 18, 2024 . | Marielle Scott, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) jumps for a block on Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) during a game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 18, 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) jumps to block Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9) during a game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 18, 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (8) is blocked by Minnesota Timberwolves forward TJ Warren (24) during a game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 18, 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) drives to the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) drives against him during a game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday 18 March 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton (2) lies on the court under Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) after being hit in the face during a game against the Timberwolves of Minnesota at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 18, 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton (2) reacts to a call from the referee during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 18, 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News
Utah Jazz guard Kris Dunn (11) and center Walker Kessler (24) jump to block Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) during a game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday March 18, 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) fights for the ball against Minnesota Timberwolves center Luka Garza (55) during a game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 18, 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) leaves the court after being hit during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Monday, March 18, 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) faces Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) during a game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 18, 2024. | Marielle Scott, Deseret News
An immediate candidate for dunk of the year ended up injuring both players. Edwards left the field immediately after the play because he dislocated a finger. But after putting it back in place and sticking it on the next finger, he returned to the court and finished the game, scoring a game-high 32 points to lead the Wolves to victory.
Collins was caught under his eye by Edwards’ hand and, according to the Jazz head coach, Will Hardy had a cut under his eye and seemed “a little out of it.” Collins did not return to the game and was evaluated for a concussion.
When asked about the dunk, Edwards said he was surprised it went in, considering he never actually got his hands on the rim.
“I thought I was going to miss it because I wasn’t close,” he said. “But somehow God wanted it for me.”
Even with the dunk that nearly broke the Internet Monday night, Edwards said he prefers his game-winning block against the Indiana Pacers from last week.
“The block,” Edwards said. “Because it was either go to overtime or win the game, and we sealed the victory.”
Overall, Edwards’ Timberwolves teammates said it was at least one of the best dunks they’ve ever seen. Even veteran Mike Conley thought this might be the best dunk in his eyes, but he said he would have to go back and watch some archived dunks to compare it.
“That was probably the craziest dunk I’ve seen in my career,” Conley said. “Honestly, it was amazing.”
Edwards said he hopes Collins is OK and that all Jazz players are equally concerned about their teammate. Lauri Markkanen — who didn’t see the dunk, only the aftermath — said if anyone could pull off something incredible, it was Edwards.
“I had just subbed in and was kind of leaning behind Will to see what was going on, so I didn’t even really see him live,” Markkanen said. “But he’s obviously an incredible athlete and you have to try to meet him early so he doesn’t do his steps correctly. Obviously this time he got the foot right and he can jump out of the building .I hope both guys are okay.
