The Timberwolves outlasted the Suns to complete the sweep, but unfortunately, Minnesota coach Chris Finch had to depart due to a knee injury
Minnesota star Anthony Edwards noticed early in the third quarter that the Phoenix Suns had changed their defensive strategy. Instead of using double teams, they started playing him one-on-one most of the time.
Taking it as a challenge, Edwards stepped up his game. He scored 31 of his 40 points in the second half, with Karl-Anthony Towns adding 28 points. As a result, the Timberwolves were able to pull away late and secure a 122-116 victory over the Suns on Sunday night. This win also completed a sweep of the first-round playoff series, marking the franchise’s first playoff series win in 20 years.
During the game, coach Chris Finch had to leave in the late fourth quarter due to an accidental collision with Wolves guard Mike Conley. The team later announced that Finch had suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee.
Edwards finished the game shooting 13 of 23 from the field, including 7 of 13 from beyond the arc. The 22-year-old’s highlight reel included a powerful, one-handed dunk that gave Minnesota a 115-111 lead with 2:14 left on the clock.
“We’ve seen him grow and evolve as a leader, a player, and a man,” said Wolves center Rudy Gobert. “It’s been a fun journey.”
Despite Devin Booker’s impressive 49-point performance on 13-of-21 shooting, Phoenix was unable to mount a comeback. Kevin Durant added 33 points, but the rest of the Suns struggled. Now, the Wolves await to find out their opponent in the second round, whether it’s the Denver Nuggets or the Los Angeles Lakers.
“Their entire team posed a lot of problems for us,” commented Suns coach Frank Vogel. “From the role players to the stars. Anthony Edwards is a truly special talent, and their big men played exceptionally well.”
In the early moments of the third quarter, Edwards hit back-to-back 3-pointers, followed by a powerful dunk from McDaniels. This helped Minnesota turn a six-point deficit into a 68-66 lead. Edwards had a big third quarter, scoring 15 points and hitting four 3-pointers.
However, Booker responded with 18 points in the same quarter, allowing the Suns to carry a slim 92-90 lead into the fourth quarter. It was a tough game for three-time All-Star Bradley Beal, who only scored nine points on 4-of-13 shooting before fouling out.
“They executed well in the late moments, and we didn’t,” acknowledged Booker.
In the first half, the Suns tried various defensive strategies, including playing five perimeter players at times to draw Gobert and Towns away from the basket. Booker hit a buzzer-beating jumper to give the Suns a 61-56 halftime lead. Durant led Phoenix with 20 points before the break, while Booker had 17. Towns contributed 15 points for the Wolves.
Suns guard Grayson Allen missed his second consecutive game due to a sprained ankle suffered in Game 1, which he then aggravated in Game 2. Allen averaged 13.5 points per game and led the NBA in 3-point percentage during the regular season.
Assistant coach Micah Nori took over for Finch for the final 1:41 of the game, and the Wolves closed out the victory relatively easily.
“Everyone has their role, and we have each other’s backs,” said Nori. “I know it sounds cliché, but it’s really the ‘next man up,’ even among the coaching staff.”
Jaden McDaniels of Minnesota contributed 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting, and the Wolves had a significant rebounding advantage of 44-33.
The fourth quarter was tightly contested, and the Suns managed to tie the game at 107 with 4:30 remaining thanks to a 3-pointer by Royce O’Neale. However, Edwards and McDaniels responded with back-to-back corner 3-pointers, giving the Wolves a 113-109 lead with 3:20 left on the clock.
News Source:Apnews