Timberwolves trounced the Suns 120-95 in Game 1 of their playoff series. From the opening tip-off, it was clear that Minnesota came to play, with their offense firing on all cylinders and their defense suffocating the Suns at every turn.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the charge for the Timberwolves, putting up a double-double with 30 points and 12 rebounds. His presence in the paint was too much for Phoenix to handle, as he consistently found ways to score and grab crucial boards.
The Minnesota Timberwolves' dynamic young superstar, dripping with confidence, had already buried a string of jumpers, becoming more animated after each one widened the score. Then, with 48 seconds left in the game-defining third quarter, Edwards drifted toward the left wing and took aim.
Kevin Durant's infinite wingspan was a touch too late on the closeout and Edwards' 3-pointer danced through the net, letting loose a deafening roar from a sellout crowd.
Kevin Durant scored 31 points on 11-for-17 shooting to lead the Suns, whose disadvantages in depth and size were exploited. Devin Booker had 18 points on 5-for-16 shooting and Bradley Beal added 15 points, but the Suns were outrebounded 52-28 and outscored 52-34 in the paint by the Wolves.
Game 2 is in Minneapolis on Tuesday before the best-of-seven series shifts to Phoenix for Game 3.
Devin Booker hit a pair of free throws after Edwards’ second 3 put Minnesota up 19, but Nickeil Alexander-Walker drilled another 3 to make it an even 20-point lead heading into the fourth.
 "Everybody was ready," said Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who had 18 points off the bench and finished with a team-best plus-minus of plus-28. "I think having that week, not having to worry about the play-in just got us going. Home-court advantage as well, sleeping in your own bed, all things like that.
For the Timberwolves, Edwards starred, but the team received well-rounded efforts from Towns (19 points, 7 rebounds), Gobert (14 points, 16 rebounds) and the bench, with Nickeil Alexander-Walker scoring 18 and Naz Reid adding 12 points.
Most impressively, the Timberwolves held decisive edges in rebounds (52 to 28), points in the paint (52 to 34) and second-chance points (20 to 6).
"Our focus and our urgency was obviously at an all-time high," Gobert said. "I love how we respected the game plan all 48 minutes, from the first to the last. We tried to not let them get a hot start like they did the three other games and just do what we do."
Read more
Lakers vs. Nuggets 114-103 Knicks beat 76ers 111-104Sarah H
Also on site :