Minnesota Timberwolves

One year after being on the wrong side of an all-time highlight moment for Luka Dončić, Rudy Gobert got his revenge with arguably the best game of his career to help the Minnesota Timberwolves end the Los Angeles Lakers' season on Wednesday night.

Following the Timberwolves' 103-96 victory (starts at 1:35 mark), Anthony Edwards praised Gobert by calling him "a dragon" for his 27-point, 24-rebound performance against a Lakers team that has who he called the "best player ever" in LeBron James.

Edwards did clarify that Gobert wasn't a dragon from the Arctic, but rather one from the Game of Thrones universe on this particular night.

It speaks to how well the Timberwolves have assembled their roster and depth that they won a playoff games in which Edwards wasn't effective shooting the ball. He finished with just 15 points and missed all 11 of his three-point attempts, but contributed 11 rebounds and eight assists in Game 5.

Gobert's playoff shortcomings have been well-documented. Dončić even admitted after his return game to Dallas on April 9 that the clip from the tribute video that made him most emotional was his game-winning shot over the Minnesota center in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals last season.

Minnesota was winning in this series prior to Wednesday night with very minimal contributions from Gobert. He had a total of 14 points and 25 rebounds in the first four games against the Lakers' small-ball lineups.

Game 5 saw Gobert and the Timberwolves take advantage of the huge size discrepancy in the paint. He set playoff career-highs in both points and rebounds. It was his first 20-point game in the postseason since June 2, 2021.

Minnesota has advanced to the Western Conference semifinals for the second consecutive year. It will await the winner of the Golden State Warriors-Houston Rockets series.

After helping the Minnesota Timberwolves eliminate the Los Angeles Lakers from the playoffs in the first round, star guard Anthony Edwards added a new moniker to his list of aliases.

Following the Timberwolves' 103-96 win in Wednesday's Game 5, Adidas dubbed Edwards "The King Slayer" for sending star forward LeBron James and the rest of the Lakers home:

Edwards had 15 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and three steals in Wednesday's win. He averaged 26.8 points in the series against the Lakers, which included a 43-point performance in a Game 4 victory.

Edwards is one of the fastest-rising young stars in the NBA today, and taking down James in the playoffs will undoubtedly be a key moment in his growing legacy. In last year's playoffs, he led Minnesota past star forward Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns before upsetting star center Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.

The 23-year-old will look to increase his star power even further when the Timberwolves meet the winner of the Golden State Warriors vs. the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference Semifinals.

Don't worry, Minnesota Timberwolves fans.

Anthony Edwards isn't leaving for the NFL.

"Playing in the NFL? Nah, I'm cool," he said during a video with GQ (7:20 mark). "I mean, I want to but I love where I'm at."

In November 2023, Edwards turned heads when he told comedian Marco Summers  (h/t ESPN), "I think I might be the first one" when discussing a player to play in both the NFL and the NBA.

ESPN noted Edwards was a star running back growing up but eventually switched over to basketball.

It was a wise decision, as he is now one of the best players in the NBA at just 23 years old. He was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2020 NBA draft and is now a three-time All-Star who helped lead the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals last season.

They are also just one game away from eliminating LeBron James, Luka Dončić and the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of this year's playoffs.

Edwards has been unstoppable while helping Minnesota seize a 3-1 lead in the high-profile series. He is averaging 29.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 43.2 percent from deep through the first four games.

Minnesota will look to close out the Lakers on Wednesday and take a step closer to a championship, which will be far easier to do with Edwards remaining in the NBA instead of pursuing an NFL dream.

Minnesota Timberwolves star guard Anthony Edwards has never been one to hold his tongue, but he's paying for it this time.

The NBA announced Tuesday that Edwards has been fined $50,000 for "directing inappropriate language and making an obscene gesture toward a fan" in Saturday's win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the first-round series.

Edwards had 22 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in the Timberwolves' 117-95 upset win. As Minnesota cruised toward a dominant victory, Edwards responded to antagonizers at Crypto.com Arena in the third quarter by making NSFW comments and gestures.

Still, Edwards' unflattering moment won't overshadow Minnesota's impressive road victory over Los Angeles. The Timberwolves shot 51.2 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from three-point range, with Jaden McDaniels leading the way with 25 points and Naz Reid adding 23 points off the bench.

Following Minnesota's run to the Western Conference Finals last year, not many were convinced that the team would be able to duplicate that success this time around.

"It's hard to have confidence in them," a league executive told ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst before the postseason started. "They're a younger team, they're immature at times. Ant is brash and arrogant when it's going well and moody when it's not. Rudy has been a difference-maker since coming back from the back injury. There's a lot of unknowns. How much will they trust Randle? How durable is Conley? But they could get hot."

The Timberwolves answered any questions with their strong showing on Saturday. Edwards and company will try to keep the momentum going when they return to action in Game 2 on Tuesday night. The game is set for 10 p.m. ET on TNT.

Minnesota Timberwolves star guard Anthony Edwards has never shied away from competition, so it's no surprise that he's hyped for his postseason matchup against the greatest player of his generation.

As the Timberwolves prepare to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs, Edwards told reporters that he's relishing the chance to battle with Lakers star forward LeBron James over a seven-game series.

"It means a lot to match up against him, man. Probably goes down as the greatest player to ever play basketball," Edwards said. "Trying to get putting him out of the playoffs under my belt is going to be a tough one, but it’s going to be a fun road."

The Lakers and Timberwolves faced each other four times during the regular season and split the series 2-2. In their most recent meeting on Feb. 27, Los Angeles earned a 111-102 win after James dropped 33 points, 17 rebounds and six assists in a throwback performance. Edwards was limited to 18 points in the loss.

Still, the 23-year-old is regarded as one of the fastest-rising young stars in the NBA today. He famously led the Timberwolves in a four-game sweep against his idol Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs last year.

He also helped Minnesota upset the Denver Nuggets in seven games in the conference semifinals, which ended the Nuggets' chance to repeat as NBA champions.

It won't be an easy task to get past the Lakers, as James has an exciting new running mate in star guard Luka Dončić, who led the Dallas Mavericks past Edwards and the Timberwolves in five games in last year's Western Conference Finals. The two teams will open the series in Los Angeles on Saturday at 8:30 pm ET on ABC.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle is a little richer after Sunday's win over the Utah Jazz in the 2024 regular-season finale.

ESPN's Bobby Marks noted that as the Timberwolves clinched a spot in the playoffs, Randle fulfilled the requirements for a $1.4 million bonus by playing over 65 games and helping the team earn a postseason berth.

Randle had 10 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and a block in Minnesota's 116-105 win over Utah. He finished with averages of 18.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists across 68 games played in his first season with the Timberwolves.

The New York Knicks traded Randle to Minnesota over the offseason as part of the deal that sent star big man Karl-Anthony Towns to the Big Apple. The 30-year-old was coming off a disappointing 2023-24 campaign in which he was limited to 46 games due to season-ending shoulder surgery, so Marks noted his bonus "was deemed unlikely before the start of the season" because he wasn't expected to play over 65 games.

Randle can test free agency this offseason if he declines his $30.9 million player option for the 2025-26 season. After a solid season with the Timberwolves that will conclude in the playoffs, perhaps he could choose to stick around for another year.

For now, Randle will be focused on trying to help Minnesota make its first trip to the NBA Finals, as the team will open the postseason against the Denver Nuggets next week. The Timberwolves made a run to the Western Conference Finals last year before falling to the Dallas Mavericks in five games, so they will be motivated to break through this time around.

The NBA has rescinded Anthony Edwards' technical foul from Friday night's game against the Brooklyn Nets, it announced on Saturday.

Edwards initially received the technical after disputing a call in the second quarter of Minnesota's 117-91 win over the Brooklyn Nets. It represented his 18th technical foul of the season, which would have prevented him from playing against the Utah Jazz on Sunday.

Now, Edwards is expected to be available for a game that the Timberwolves must win in order to clinch a top-six seed in the playoff bracket.

Despite the rescinded technical, Edwards still leads the league with 17 technical fouls this season.

Under NBA rules, a player racking up 16 technical fouls results in a one-game suspension. Another one-game suspension is added with each two additional technical fouls recorded.

Edwards previously served a one-game suspension for reaching 16 technicals against Utah on Feb. 28. Minnesota lost by the final score of 117-116.

The three-time All-Star initially received his 18th technical foul for disagreeing with official Ray Acosta after he was whistled for a personal foul on Nets guard Keon Johnson, raising his arms in disbelief.

"I'm praying they rescind it," Edwards said after the game, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). "I don't feel like it should've been a tech, but me and Ray got a good relationship. We talked it out after the fact. But I don't think I deserved a tech for just that little gesture."

Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch also disagreed with call.

"I did not really get a good or clear explanation of why the technical occurred. It didn't seem like there was anything egregious or overly demonstrative," Finch said, via ESPN.

Now, Edwards will be available for a crucial game against the Jazz. Minnesota currently sits at No. 7 in the crowded Western Conference standings with a 48-33 record, looking to clinch a fourth consecutive playoff berth.

The Timberwolves can finish as high as No. 4 in the West following Sunday's action, but they can also drop to No. 8 and would need to win a play-in tournament game to secure a playoff spot.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards will be suspended for the team's regular season finale against the Utah Jazz on Sunday after getting his 18th technical foul of the 2024-25 campaign.

Edwards received the technical after arguing with officials during the second quarter of Minnesota's home game against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday evening. The arguing followed officials calling a shooting foul on Edwards (his second personal) while he defended Nets guard Keon Johnson.

NBA rules stipulate that players receive a one-game suspension after receiving 16 technical fouls in a season. That already happened to Edwards, who missed the team's 117-116 loss to the Jazz on Feb. 28.

However, players who hit the 16-tech mark are also given a one-game suspension for every two technical fouls they amass after that point. And with Edwards now picking up No. 18, he will sit on Sunday unless the league rescinds the technical upon review.

The Timberwolves are in a fight to clinch a postseason berth without having to participate in the play-in tournament.

Entering Friday, Minnesota was in a three-way tie for sixth place at 47-33 with the Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies. The Timberwolves were a game behind the 48-32 Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers and two games back of the Los Angeles Lakers.

A top-six finish in the Western Conference solidifies a playoff spot. Minnesota is in danger of finishing seventh or eighth, which means a one-game play-in to decide the No. 7 seed. A loss there is a win-and-in game against the ninth or 10th place team to get the No. 8 seed.

So there's a lot on the line down the stretch, meaning it could hurt to miss Edwards in the finale.

Edwards, of course, is a tremendous player who entered Friday averaging 27.6 points per game. Hurting him will sting, but the Timberwolves are playing a 17-63 Jazz team with the NBA's worst record.

Then again, Minnesota lost to this same Jazz team without Edwards in February, so the Timberwolves can't chalk up a win here.

There is one big difference this time around, as Minnesota will be at home as opposed to Salt Lake City, so perhaps that gives them a needed edge to close out the season with a victory and hope for a top-six seed depending on results around the league.

As Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves attempt to secure a spot in the 2025 NBA playoffs, there's belief that the team may not be able to go on a deep postseason run.

"It's hard to have confidence in them," a league executive told ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst. "They're a younger team, they're immature at times. Ant is brash and arrogant when it's going well and moody when it's not. Rudy has been a difference-maker since coming back from the back injury. There's a lot of unknowns. How much will they trust Randle? How durable is Conley? But they could get hot."

The Timberwolves are looking to clinch their fourth consecutive playoff appearance and are coming off a trip to the Western Conference Finals last season.

They currently sit at No. 8 in the crowded Western Conference standings with a 47-33 record, but they're only one game behind the Denver Nuggets at No. 4.

Edwards is in the midst of another strong individual year, averaging a career-high 27.6 points to go along with 5.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. He's also developed his long-range shooting, connecting on 39.7 percent of his triples while attempting 10.2 shots from behind the arc on a nightly basis.

The three-time All-Star has been known to voice his frustration when the team has struggled, telling reporters on Jan. 2 that it was "super hard" to stay engaged when facing double teams.

There's also some uncertainty surrounding Julius Randle's playoff outlook. Randle has been efficient throughout his first year in Minnesota while averaging 18.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, but his postseason history isn't promising.

The power forward owns 34.4/28.3/75.6 shooting splits throughout 15 career playoff games.

Mike Conley has remained a steady lead guard while on the floor, but he's also been utilized less as he closes out his 18th season in the NBA. The 37-year-old has averaged career-low marks in minutes (25.0) and points per game (8.4) this year.

Still, the Timberwolves have stepped up down the stretch of the regular season and could carry their momentum into a potential playoff series. They've compiled a record of 15-4 over their past 19 games, owning the No. 3 net rating in the association over that stretch (via NBA.com).

There's some skepticism that Minnesota can continue to perform at a high level in a postseason setting, though.

The Minnesota Timberwolves narrowly secured a 114-109 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday, but head coach Chris Finch wasn't satisfied with his team's performance.

"It’s been who we’ve been all season, and it’s disappointing," Finch said, per Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. "It starts with surviving our own mistakes. We had a bunch of guys who didn’t play particularly well today, and the energy goes down around that."

"Our offense is sputtering," he added. "Unfortunately, the last two games our offense has gotten off to slow starts. we’ve got to make more energy plays to get guys going."

Minnesota has won five straight games and owns a record of 14-3 over its past 17 contests, but it hasn't looked as sharp offensively as of late.

The Timberwolves average 114.0 points per game as a team on the season, although they've averaged just 109.5 points per game over their past two matchups with the 76ers and Brooklyn Nets.

Both teams own a combined record of just 48-107.

Minnesota only led by two points over Philadelphia with 31 seconds left in the fourth quarter on Saturday, but a contested three-pointer from Anthony Edwards ultimately sealed the victory.

The Timberwolves are looking to clinch a fourth consecutive playoff spot, currently sitting at No. 6 in the Western Conference standings with an overall record of 46-32. They own identical records as the Los Angeles Clippers at No. 7 and Memphis Grizzlies at No. 8, though.

With four games remaining in the regular season, Finch wants to see more urgency from his team on offense.