Anthony Edwards delivered a dominant performance in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 116-98 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night. The 22-year-old guard scored 44 points and later credited Kevin Durant as the reason he plays with extra intensity against Phoenix.
When asked what brings out his competitive fire against the Suns, Edwards had a simple answer: “Kevin Durant.” The three-time All-Star has previously cited Durant as one of his idols, and their matchups continue to fuel his drive on the court.
Minnesota (33-29) snapped a three-game losing streak, securing just its third win in nine games. Julius Randle made his return after missing 13 games, finishing with 20 points in his first appearance since January 30.
The Suns (28-33) held a 51-49 lead at halftime before Minnesota seized control in the third quarter. Edwards erupted for 17 points in the period as the Timberwolves turned a two-point deficit into an 83-72 advantage.
Phoenix never recovered, struggling with turnovers and defensive lapses. The Timberwolves capitalized, scoring 40 points off 22 Suns turnovers while holding them to 43.9% shooting.
Donte DiVincenzo provided a spark off the bench, drilling eight three-pointers en route to 24 points. Jaden McDaniels also played a crucial role, tallying 13 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.
Kevin Durant led the Suns with 26 points, but he received little support. Devin Booker finished with 17 points, while Bradley Beal added 18, but Phoenix’s offense stagnated in the second half.
One critical moment came early in the fourth quarter when Randle dunked over Suns rookie Ryan Dunn. On the next possession, Dunn’s inbounds pass was intercepted by McDaniels, who converted an easy layup to push Minnesota’s lead to 95-78.
The Timberwolves connected on 21 three-pointers, shooting 40.4% from beyond the arc. Edwards made six triples, while DiVincenzo knocked down eight. Naz Reid contributed seven points and 10 rebounds, providing energy in the paint.
Phoenix’s struggles continued, as the team has now lost 11 of its last 14 games. Despite having their full lineup available, the Suns failed to match Minnesota’s physicality and perimeter shooting.
With the win, the Timberwolves moved into the eighth spot in the Western Conference, closing in on the No. 6 seed. They will look to build on this momentum as Randle works his way back to full strength.
