Kevin Durant’s 31 points weren’t enough as the Phoenix Suns were routed 120-95 by Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in their Western Conference first-round playoff series opener on Saturday.
In Minnesota’s first win over Phoenix this season, Edwards put on a show. He scored a game-high 33 points (14-for-24, 4-for-8 from deep), grabbed nine rebounds, six assists and two steals.
Edwards’ final steal was at 3:40 left to play, which led to his open-court dunk to extend Minnesota’s lead to 18. Suns coach Frank Vogel conceded the loss after that play, and took out his starters after being down most of the game, including a 27-point deficit in the fourth.
Devin Booker had 18 points and Bradley Beal 15 for the Suns, and Phoenix’s top role player performances were from Royce O’Neale (14 points) and their big Jusuf Nurkic (nine points, four rebounds, three blocks, two steals).
Grayson Allen (4 points, 5 rebounds) left the game in the third quarter after spraining his ankle.
Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert produced 14 points and a game-high 16 rebounds, and the team’s sixth man Naz Reid (12 points) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 18 points off the bench.
The Suns and Timberwolves play Game 2 on Tuesday,
