The Minnesota Timberwolves made franchise history by completing a stunning four-game sweep of the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Led by budding superstar Anthony Edwards and veterans Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, the Wolves dominated the Suns in every game to win their first playoff series since 2004.
Edwards Emerges as Playoff Closer
The story of this series was the continued emergence of Anthony Edwards as a bonafide playoff closer.
The former #1 overall pick was sensational in every game but saved his best for last. Edwards erupted for 40 points in the closeout Game 4, including a staggering 31 points in the second half alone.
Whenever the Suns made a run, Edwards had an answer to silence the home crowd.
His combination of three-point shooting, explosive drives to the rim, and overpowering dunks proved too much for Phoenix to handle.
Edwards showed tremendous poise for a 22-year-old playing on the road in a hostile environment with the series on the line. His ability to single-handedly take over games solidifies his status as a rising superstar in the league.
Towns and Gobert Dominate Inside
While Edwards did the heavy lifting on offense, Minnesota‘s twin towers of Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert controlled the game on the inside.
The two big men combined for 38 points and 20 rebounds in Game 4, punishing the smaller Suns all series long. Towns appeared fully recovered from his late-season knee injury, while Gobert protected the rim and cleaned the glass.
The Wolves held a decisive 44-33 edge in rebounding in the clinching victory.
Gobert and Towns bullied undersized Phoenix frontcourt players Nurkic and Durant throughout the series. Their interior dominance on both ends played a pivotal role during the four-game sweep.
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Role Players Step Up
With Phoenix focused on stopping Minnesota‘s top weapons, Wolves head coach Chris Finch needed his secondary players to elevate their games.
Players like Mike Conley, Naz Reid, and Jaden McDaniels answered the call in pivotal moments.
McDaniels was excellent as a spark plug scorer and defender off the bench in the series. His energy, athleticism, and shooting range gave Phoenix headaches.
Conley knocked down timely three-pointers to stem Suns‘ comeback efforts.
Suns’ Superteam Falls Short
The Suns were expected to contend for the championship this season after trading for Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal last summer. But the new-look “superteam” failed to jell and live up to enormous preseason hype.
Durant and Booker both played well, combining for 82 points in the Game 4 ouster. But with Beal showing clear signs of decline, Phoenix didn’t have enough firepower and creativity on offense. The lack of chemistry and depth got exposed against the younger, deeper Timberwolves squad.
As a result, Phoenix‘s one-year championship window may have already closed.
With Beal and Durant aging and Booker entering free agency in 2024, sweeping changes could occur this offseason. The Suns‘ star experiment may be short-lived after a shocking first-round exit.
Wolves Advance and Await Next Foe
Minnesota advances to the second round to face either the Denver Nuggets or Los Angeles Lakers.
After sweeping the top-seeded Suns, the Wolves won’t be intimidated against either potential opponent. They have the talent and toughness to make even more noise this postseason.
But first, Minnesota will celebrate this franchise-altering playoff series victory. Ending a 20-year drought to win their first playoff matchup represents a major milestone for the Timberwolves.
Led by Edwards and an impressive collection of stars and role players, the sky appears to be the limit for this emerging Western Conference threat.
Sources:
apnews.com/article/nba-playoffs-timberwolves-suns-score-410693750c2008bcb2b7622504d5fabe
www.si.com/nba/timberwolves/news/timberwolves-absorb-suns-best-shot-complete-series-sweep-with-game-4-win
www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/apr/29/nba-playoffs-minnesota-timberwolves-phoenix-suns
