Anthony Edwards scored 40 points, Karl-Anthony Towns added 28 and the Minnesota Timberwolves went ahead late to beat the Phoenix Suns 122-116 and sweep the first-round series.
Edwards had 31 points in the second half and finished 13 of 23 from the field, including 7 of 13 three-pointers. Edwards continued his rise to stardom after the 22-year-old dunked the ball with one hand to put Minnesota up 115-111 with 2:14 left.
Phoenix did not recover.
The Wolves eliminated the Duns despite Devin Booker’s 49 points on 13-of-21 shooting from the field. He also made 20 of 21 free throws. Kevin Durant added 33, but the rest of the team struggled.
Minnesota won despite coach Chris Finch exiting the game near the end of the fourth quarter after accidentally colliding with Wolves guard Mike Conley.
It was a hard-fought fourth quarter and the Suns tied the score at 107 with a triple by Royce O’Neale with 4:30 left. Edwards and Jaden McDaniels hit back-to-back threes as the Wolves led 113-109 with 3:20 left.
The Wolves now await their next opponent in the second round that will emerge from the series between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers.
