Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards scored 40 points on 15-for-21 shooting but could not prevent a 108-105 loss to the Phoenix Suns at Target Center on Monday night.
“Felt good… everything felt good besides losing. And this was a tough one,” Edwards said, highlighting the competitive back-and-forth nature of the game.
Edwards noted that Rudy Gobert’s ejection in the third quarter significantly impacted Minnesota’s defensive presence. “You can’t make up for Rudy’s absence… he’s truly missed when he’s not on the court,” he said. The Timberwolves struggled to contain Phoenix’s pick-and-rolls and cuts, particularly during the Suns’ 14-3 fourth-quarter run that created decisive separation.
Edwards praised bench spark Bones Hyland, who played extended minutes to address Minnesota’s recurring scoring issues off the bench. “I’ve been a fan of him for the last three years… it was just a matter of time until he gets out there, and he showed why he belonged tonight,” Edwards said.
The guard reflected on adjusting to intense defensive schemes targeting him every night. “Every night is a playoff game… they send two, three people at the ball… it’s fun though,” Edwards explained, adding that studying film with coaches and mentors helps him read and counter defensive coverages effectively.
Edwards also discussed improvements in his finishing and mid-range game. “Before the season, every 15 minutes to start the workout is ball handling and finishing… I had to get better at it,” he said, noting increased confidence in pull-up mid-range shots and aggressive drives to the rim.
Despite Edwards’ performance, Minnesota’s supporting cast struggled with shot-making, going 11-for-42 from three-point range. Julius Randle added 21 points and eight assists, but the Timberwolves could not maintain spacing after Gobert’s ejection, allowing Phoenix to control the paint.
Edwards emphasized teamwork in countering defensive pressure. “If y’all going to guard me like this, I know exactly where I want to pass the ball… tonight we got a bunch of open looks, we just didn’t make them, including myself,” he said.
“Especially if they in a drop coverage, keep a guy on my hip and then just bump him kind of like what Luka [Doncic] does all the time. So just watching, like I said, I always watch Luka film. So just watching him and see how he get his shots off because they send all type of coverages at him also,” Edwards added.
With the defeat, Minnesota’s five-game winning streak ended, dropping the team to 15-9. The Timberwolves face the Golden State Warriors on Friday, while Phoenix, now 14-10, prepares for Wednesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinal against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
