Anthony Edwards had a fantastic game, scoring 18 of his 33 points in the third quarter and grabbing nine rebounds, leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to an impressive 120-95 victory over the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the NBA playoffs on Saturday.
Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 19 points, Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 18 points, and Rudy Gobert was solid defensively with 14 points and 16 rebounds. This win marked the Timberwolves’ first Game 1 home victory in the playoffs in 20 years.
Despite losing all three regular-season games to the Suns where they trailed by double digits in the second half, the Timberwolves displayed a sense of urgency in this game.
Kevin Durant led the Suns with 31 points, but the team struggled with depth and size.
Devin Booker scored 18 points, and Bradley Beal added 15, but the Suns were outrebounded and outscored in the paint by the Timberwolves.
The next game, Game 2, will be held in Minneapolis on Tuesday before the series moves to Phoenix for Game 3.
Edwards fueled a crucial 19-4 run in the third quarter, celebrating with the crowd after making some key shots. His energy was evident throughout the game, and he capped off his performance with a steal from Durant and a slam dunk.
Despite picking up his third foul late in the second quarter, Edwards remained engaged, cheering on his teammates from the bench as they extended their lead.
