PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns, owners of the third best record in the Western Conference, weren't going to let a 19-year-old torch them on consecutive nights.
Anthony Edwards held to 11 points, Timberwolves lose 113-101 to Phoenix
No back-to-back big nights for Wolves scoring stars.
March 20, 2021 at 6:06AM
If there was one thing the Suns were going to do, it was to stop Anthony Edwards. They threw multiple defenders at him and obstructed his path to the basket much more than they did Thursday, when Edwards went for 42 on them.
The plan worked, as Edwards and the Wolves struggled to a 113-101 loss on the tail-end of their back-to-back with Phoenix.
Edwards had 11 points Friday on 4 of 18 shooting. But Edwards wasn't moping after the game, nor did he seem upset in any way. Instead, Edwards was glad for the experience.
"I probably would say it's respect and it's a lesson. I learned something," Edwards said. "I can go watch this game and see how other teams might think is the right way to guard me. This game will help me for sure because that's probably how teams are going to guard me from here on out."
That's what happens when you're a rookie who scored over 30 points twice in a week. Edwards said the Suns defended him much differently than they did Thursday, and made it a lot more difficult for him to get clean looks at the rim.
"It was like three dudes in the paint. They weren't trying to give me no open looks," Edwards said. "They were just taking everything away from me so I was just trying to get my teammates involved, rebounding, do everything else."
He did have 10 rebounds and six assists, so he accomplished that. But without the fireworks he displayed Thursday the Wolves were bound to struggle. Karl-Anthony Towns had 24 points and nine rebounds while Ricky Rubio continued his strong play with 21 points and 10 assists, but the only other Wolves player in double figures was Jaylen Nowell (14 points). It didn't help the Wolves committed 20 turnovers, seven of those attributed to Edwards. Chris Paul's steady hand had 20 points and nine assist for Phoenix while Josh Okogie did a commendable job on Devin Booker in holding him to 16 points on 6 of 18 shooting, but the Suns had seven players in double figures to the Wolves' four.
Wolves coach Chris Finch said he noticed Edwards become increasingly frustrated after he wasn't getting calls at the rim (Edwards didn't shoot a free-throw on the night). That caused Edwards to alter his plan of attack — by not attacking the rim as much and settling for mid-range shots and jumpers.
"He did a good job of playmaking, kicking out, getting to spots on the floor," Finch said. "I thought his shot selection was a little bit of a step back from where he'd been over the last few games, but we'll get that corrected again."
Towns said he was trying to get Edwards to initiate the offense from farther out, but the Wolves were unsuccessful in doing that.
"I knew it was going to happen tonight. I fully anticipated them having more of a focus on Ant," Towns said. "The one thing I just told Ant is that we have to play a little smarter. We can't play a lot of bully ball. We can't just play like yesterday is going to happen tonight. … So it's a learning experience, we'll come back we'll be better."
Both Towns and Rubio referred to the "chess" game that can happen in the NBA, especially when teams play each other back to back as is happening often this season.
"It's fun to learn how teams are going to change their schemes once they realize how they're going to guard you differently than they did the first game," Edwards said. "I'm not disappointed or mad at all. I'm ready to play them again. I'm ready to play the next team."
Edwards said he had to improve that mid-range game because the secret is out about him and his driving abilities. The NBA has taken notice. Now Edwards will plan his response.
"Because everybody knows I want to get to the rim … " Edwards said. "I had a pretty good stretch of games [shooting]. This was the first bad one shooting the ball, but that happens. I got to get better with not having a bad one. When there is a bad one, still find a way."
High-profile victims in Minnesota include Timberwolf Mike Conley and Twins co-owner Jim Pohlad.
