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The NBA has issued a $25,000 fine to Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards for using profane language during media availability after the team’s 107-90 victory over the Golden State Warriors on December 6. Edwards had been aware of the impending fine, which led him to avoid speaking to the media following the Timberwolves' 114-106 loss to the Warriors on Sunday, as he didn’t want to incur another penalty for cursing.
Frustration After Sunday’s Loss
Edwards, who finished the game with 27 points, but struggled in the fourth quarter with only 1-of-7 shooting and two turnovers, was visibly frustrated after the loss. His anger could be heard in the background during a locker room media scrum when he was overheard saying, “I just gotta f--king play better.” He continued, “I gotta find my teammates. F--king terrible by me.”
Timberwolves’ Struggling Start
The Timberwolves' loss dropped their record to 12-11 on the season, marking an inconsistent start to the campaign after a successful 56-26 record last year. The defeat snapped a four-game winning streak, but the team had shown flashes of improvement prior to the loss.
Randle and Gobert Reflect on the Team’s Performance
Despite the setback, Julius Randle remained optimistic, telling reporters, "We've shown flashes. Up and down, but we've shown flashes of who we can be, especially on the defensive end. We just gotta keep doing consistency with that." Rudy Gobert echoed his optimism, focusing on the team’s growth. "I like where we're at, not in terms of the standings, but more in terms of the things we've been through as a team and our awareness right now," he said. "A game like tonight, we can exactly feel what happened. With that mindset, I think good things will happen. Now we just gotta keep each other accountable."
Adjusting to Life Without Karl-Anthony Towns
The Timberwolves are still adjusting to life without Karl-Anthony Towns, who was traded to the New York Knicks in early October as part of a three-team deal. In exchange, the Timberwolves received Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Keita Bates-DiOp, and a future first-round pick. This trade has left Edwards to take on a more significant role offensively, a challenge he has embraced. Edwards is averaging 26.4 points per game on 20.3 attempts, shooting 45.3% from the field and 42.7% from three-point range. However, his 4 assists to 3.1 turnovers ratio is still a work in progress, as was evident during the loss to the Warriors.
Warriors Pull Off Late Comeback
The Warriors secured a 114-106 victory over the Timberwolves, thanks to a combined 77 points from Stephen Curry, Buddy Hield, and Jonathan Kuminga. Gary Payton II also made key defensive plays, helping Golden State hold Minnesota scoreless over the final 4:46 of the game. Curry led all scorers with 30 points, Hield added 27, and Kuminga chipped in 20 points.
The game was tightly contested, with a 3-pointer from Edwards putting Minnesota ahead 106-105 with 4:47 remaining. However, the Timberwolves would not score again, as the Warriors closed the game with a 9-0 run. Payton made a crucial block on a Nickeil Alexander-Walker layup, then stole an Edwards pass to ensure the win for Golden State. This victory allowed the Warriors to avenge their 107-90 loss to the Timberwolves earlier in the week and provided only their second win in the past eight games.
