SALT LAKE CITY – Anthony Edwards will be suspended from the Timberwolves’ game Friday against Utah after the NBA upheld the two technical fouls Edwards received in Thursday’s loss to the Lakers.
The technical fouls were the 15th and 16th of the season for Edwards, and the 16th triggered an automatic one-game suspension. For the rest of the season, Edwards will receive another one-game suspension for every two technicals he receives. The counter resets in the postseason.
Coach Chris Finch said he spoke with Edwards on Friday and said Edwards was “apologetic.”
“He knows he needs to be better,” Finch said. “Hopefully it’s gotten to a point where it’s kind of boiled over and he learns his lesson going forward. I told him the shame of it for me is, Ant is such a pleasant guy. He’s not an angry guy. He’s not a mean guy. He’s not like always cursing at the officials. It’s just these outbursts that he has out that come out of frustration.”
Edwards picked up his first technical foul after the first quarter, when he and former Wolves forward Jarred Vanderbilt got in an exchange at midcourt. Edwards shoved Vanderbilt in the back, leading to a short confrontation, and both received technicals on review.
Then in the third quarter, Edwards fell after driving on Gabe Vincent, whose left leg hit Edwards in the back of the knee. As he was on the ground, he appeared to complain to the officials, and referee Brent Barnaky issued the technical with 5 minutes, 21 seconds remaining. Edwards tossed the ball into the crowd as he left the floor, and that drew a delay-of-game warning.
Crew chief James Williams said Edwards was issued the second technical for “directing profanity towards the game official,” according to a pool report. Williams also said the fact Edwards already had one technical was taken into account when Barnaky issued the second technical.
Edwards apologized to the team after the game, point guard Mike Conley said.
