Timberwolves Star Shows Emotion After Tough Loss

The Minnesota Timberwolves experienced a disappointing night on Wednesday, suffering a 126-102 defeat against the Atlanta Hawks. Star player Anthony Edwards was visibly frustrated, leaving the bench to head to the locker room during a timeout with 7:52 left in the game, as the Hawks were leading 109-80.

Head coach Chris Finch acknowledged Edwards' frustration in his post-game remarks, emphasizing the need for the young star to support his teammates despite their struggles. “Obviously frustrated with the performance and rightfully so, but he needs to stay out on the floor and root for his team,” Finch stated.

Despite the team’s shortcomings, Edwards delivered a strong individual performance, scoring 30 points on 10-of-18 shooting, along with five rebounds, two blocks, and one steal. However, he had little help, as Julius Randle was the only other player to score in double figures with 19 points, and no other Timberwolves player exceeded 10 points.

This loss marks the Timberwolves' third defeat in their last four games, putting them in a challenging spot sitting at 21-13 and sixth in the Western Conference. Edwards has been consistently impressive, averaging 31.3 points per game during this stretch, but he expressed his concern over the team’s performance in previous games.

Edwards, an Atlanta native with family members present at the game including his grandfather, was also previously ejected during a Christmas Day matchup against the Denver Nuggets after a dispute with officials, where he had scored an impressive 44 points before his exit.

After a recent loss to the Brooklyn Nets, Edwards voiced his frustrations, hinting at a need for change within the team. “Man, I don't know, it be the same answers every time. I don't know, we got to change something. I don't know what it is,” he remarked.

As the season progresses, Edwards is having the best year of his career, currently averaging 29.1 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, with excellent shooting percentages of 49.7% from the field and 39.7% from beyond the arc.