Edwards suspended after receiving 16th technical foul
Wolves lose to Utah in Edward’s absence.
By Associated Press – February 28, 2025
Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards has been suspended for one game after being ejected and picking up his 16th technical foul of the season during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.
Edwards served his suspension during Friday night’s 117-116 loss to the Utah Jazz.
The Wolves are now in ninth place in the West after Friday’s loss. While a strong finish to the year could vault Minnesota into the top six, and out of the play-in tournament, any stumbles could mean they have to win two play-in games just to reach the playoffs.
Its star player’s availability would go a long way toward cementing Minnesota’s standing. Without him Friday—and without Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert—Minnesota fell to a tanking Jazz squad, thanks to another bad start, a horrendous third quarter and an inability to finish down the stretch.
The Wolves went down early, but a terrific second quarter left them up 11 at the break. Utah opened the third on a 27-4 run that required multiple Chris Finch timeouts to finally quell. There were large portions of Friday’s bout where the Wolves simply weren’t willing to defend. Utah shot 51 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range.
So, the Wolves had to score alongside their foe. Naz Reid scored 27 points, while Terrence Shannon Jr. had 17 and Jaden McDaniels scored 20.
Donte DiVincenzo had 12 points in his second game back from injury but was denied on his drive attempt on the final play of the game, losing the ball in a mid-air collision on his potential game-winning attempt.
Edwards likely would have made a difference.
“He’s got to be better. He’s had too many outbursts. I think a lot of them are deserved,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said about Edwards after the 111-102 loss. “They’re going to miss some calls from time to time for sure. We’ve been talking to him about it. It’s on him.”
Crew chief James Williams said in a pool report that Edwards received his second technical for directing profanity toward an official. Edwards was upset after he felt Lakers guard Gabe Vincent should have been called for a blocking foul as Edwards tried to drive.
Finch did come to Edwards’ defense in saying that he felt like a foul should have been called.
“It was a block. Just call the block and nothing happens,” Finch said. “After that, I don’t really know what was said and what was not said. Clearly, it was a block right in front of me.”
The Timberwolves trailed 74-59 when Edwards was ejected with 5:21 remaining in the third quarter. They rallied to within three midway through the fourth quarter before losing.
NBA rules state a player receives a one-game suspension after picking up 16 technical fouls in a season. For every two additional technicals, the suspension will increase by one game.
Los Angeles’ Jarred Vanderbilt and Edwards received technical fouls before the start of the second quarter after both shoved each other at the end of the first quarter.
Edwards, who is fourth in the league in scoring at 27.3 points per game, had 18 points in 26 minutes.
PHOTO: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts in front of referee James Williams #60 as he is ejected from the game during a 111-102 Los Angeles Lakers win at Crypto.com Arena on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. | Harry How / Getty Images