Anthony Edwards played with fire, and eventually got burnt.
The guard had numerous exchanges with officials in the first half of Friday’s tilt — and hung on the rim for numerous seconds after a dunk after he disagreed with a call and wasn’t “T’d” up — but finally the officials had enough, and gave Edwards a technical midway through the second quarter.
It’s especially significant because that’s Edwards’ 18th technical foul of the season. And, if it isn’t rescinded by the NBA, will result in another one-game suspension. That would mean Edwards would have to sit out Minnesota’s regular season finale on Sunday against Utah.
That’s a game the Wolves will likely need to win to secure a top-six seed in the Western Conference playoffs and dodge the play-in tournament.
Minnesota players and coaches pleaded with the officials immediately after the call was made, to no avail.
Minnesota figures to be able to beat the Jazz — who have every incentive to lose the game to maintain the best possible draft position — even without its star guard. Utah is sitting the majority of its notable, productive players down the stretch run of the season. But having Edwards on the floor would certainly give the Wolves’ a larger margin for error.
Edwards already missed a game after picking up his 16th technical foul in February. At that point, a player is suspended for another game for every two subsequent techs he receives. The count resets at the outset of the playoffs.
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