Anthony Edwards shines as Timberwolves cruise past the Suns in Game 1

The Minnesota Timberwolves secured a dominant 120-95 victory over the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the NBA playoffs on Saturday. Anthony Edwards showcased a stellar performance, contributing 33 points and nine rebounds, with 18 points coming in a remarkable third quarter display.

The Wolves’ triumph marked their first home playoff win in two decades, propelled by notable contributions from Karl-Anthony Towns (19 points), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (18 points on 7 of 12 shooting), and Rudy Gobert, who posted a double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds, as reported by the NBA website.

In all three regular-season matchups, the sixth-seeded Suns emerged victorious over the third-seeded Wolves, maintaining a double-digit lead throughout the second half. Kevin Durant spearheaded the Suns’ offense, capitalizing on their advantage in size and depth by tallying 31 points on an efficient 11-of-17 shooting. Bradley Beal contributed 15 points, while Devin Booker added 18 points on 5-of-16 shooting. Despite their efforts, the Suns struggled on the boards, being outrebounded 52-28, and in the paint, where they were outscored 52-34 by the Wolves.

Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday in Minneapolis, with Game 3 of the best-of-seven series set to take place in Phoenix. Anthony Edwards played a pivotal role in the Wolves’ performance, leading a crucial 19-4 run to close out the third quarter. Edwards’ impactful play was capped off by a gesture of appreciation towards the crowd as he embraced their support.

Anthony Edwards Triumphs Over His Favorite Player, Kevin Durant

Anthony Edwards hit a 3-pointer from the wing during the Minnesota Timberwolves’ solid third quarter. As he retreated up the floor, he yelled and glanced at Kevin Durant, nodding.

“That’s my favorite player of all time, so that was probably one of the best feelings ever in my whole life, for sure,” Anthony Edwards said. “He made like four or five straight buckets like it was nothing. And I became a fan at one point. There was nothing we could do.”

Amid a massive roster upheaval that began a little over a year ago, Durant, a 14-time All-Star with two championship rings, was playing at his best during the postseason. The 6-foot-10 Durant sprang into the air with his silky jump jumper, giving the Wolves and their NBA-best defense no answer whether it was a fadeaway, turnaround, or spot-up.