MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Edwards scored 18 of his 33 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the third quarter, leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 120-95 win over the Phoenix Suns to start the first round of the playoffs on Saturday. Chopped.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 19 points, Nickell-Alexander Walker had 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, and Rudy Gobert solidified the lane with 14 points, 16 rebounds and constant shot-changing defense for the Timberwolves. led them to their first game. This is the first home win in the playoffs in 20 years.
Kevin Durant scored 31 points on 11-of-17 shooting to lead the Suns, who took advantage of their depth and size.
Devin Booker had 18 points on 5-of-16 shooting and Bradley Beal added 15, but the Suns outrebounded them 52-28 and outscored the Timberwolves in the paint 52-34.
Game 2 will be played Tuesday in Minneapolis, then the best-of-seven series will move to Game 3 in Phoenix.
Edwards led a 19-4 run to end the third quarter and made some of his biggest shots in that stretch, then extended his arms wide to connect with the crowd. he looked at Durant and barked, but Durant could only grin at the 22-year-old’s brave demeanor.
With 3:37 left, Edwards put an end to this performance by stealing the ball from Durant after Gobert flicked it away and finishing with a slam to the other side.
His enthusiasm was contagious throughout the afternoon.
After picking up his third foul late in the second quarter, Edwards passed the towel on the bench and took credit for extending the lead to double digits for the first time in the game.
Durant, a 14-time All-Star with two championship rings, arrived in the desert a little more than a year ago as part of the first part of a major roster shakeup and was in great shape in the playoffs.
Whether it was a fadeaway, a turnaround or a spot-up, the Wolves and the NBA’s best defense had no answer when the 6-foot-10 Durant rose into the air with a smooth jump shot.
But Durant, Booker, the anchor of the Big 3, and Beal, the only remaining players from the 2021 team that reached the NBA Finals, had no match.
He couldn’t even drop a layup, let alone a jumper. Grayson Allen, one of the best 3-point shooters in the league, missed all three shots and scored just four points.
For the first time since moving to Target Center 34 years ago, the Timberwolves had a sold-out home game this season.
Their fans, who, like fans of American professional sports, were eager to make it to the postseason, brought a finals-level energy to the first round that the Timberwolves have not been able to escape since their only advance 20 years ago. The Vikings’ star roster included former players (Adrian Peterson) and current players (Justin Jefferson).
The big money players gave the Timberwolves what they needed, but one of their advantages in this series was a bench that helped the Timberwolves by giving the Suns a 41-18 scoring advantage. There should be.
Alexander Walker was in the midst of an exciting second quarter, highlighted by intercepting a spilled pass from Allen in the lane and making a fast-break layup late in the first half.
Alexander Walker made a corner 3-pointer just before the third quarter buzzer for a 20-point lead.
Wolves backup Kyle Anderson suffered a hip pointer in the second quarter and did not return.
Minnesota made 20 of 22 from the free throw line. Towns went 8-for-8 and Gobert went 6-for-7.
