Mad in Minnesota: Anthony Edwards storms out as Timberwolves fall in Atlanta blowout

There’s turbulence in Minnesota. The Timberwolves, one of the NBA’s most unpredictable teams, capable of beating anyone on any given night - including the Thunder - also have a habit of disappearing midgame. That volatility was on full display in Atlanta, where Minnesota fell 126-102.

The Wolves had a chance to leapfrog the Lakers and tie the Houston Rockets for fourth place in the Western Conference. They faced a Hawks team that had not won since December 14, on a seven-game losing streak. Atlanta broke that skid in emphatic fashion.

Porzingis’ triumphant return, Johnson joins exclusive club

One key factor was the return of Kristaps Porzingis after missing 10 games. Coming off the bench, the Latvian big man scored 16 points in just 17 minutes.

The real star, however, was Atlanta forward Jalen Johnson, one of the breakout sensations of the season. Now in his fifth NBA campaign, he is on track for his first All-Star selection. Against Minnesota, he put on another masterclass: 34 points on 68.2% shooting, 10 rebounds, and six assists. By the end of December, he had averaged 25.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 10.1 assists - a feat accomplished in a single month by only six other players in NBA history, including Oscar Robertson (seven times), Russell Westbrook and Nikola Jokic (six), Luka Doncic (three), and Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James (once each).

The decisive peiord came in the second quarter. Atlanta outscored Minnesota 37-23 and took a 21-point lead into halftime. It was a deficit the Wolves never came close to erasing.

Edwards storms out after bold Finch call

With nearly eight minutes left, Minnesota coach Chris Finch made a bold move: he benched his entire starting five. That’s when the most striking image of the night occurred. Finch called a timeout, announced the lineup change, and Anthony Edwards did not take it well.

The Wolves’ star, who had 30 points in 33 minutes at that point, threw a towel to the floor and walked off toward the locker room. He did not return to the court and refused to speak to the media after the game.

Coach responds to Edwards tantrum

Finch addressed the situation afterward: “He was obviously frustrated with the team’s performance, and rightfully so, but he should have stayed on the court and supported his teammates.”

Edwards, who was ejected on Christmas Day during overtime in a loss at Denver for arguing with officials, is from Atlanta. Many of his family and friends were in the stands to watch him play. Minnesota now faces the delicate task of handling the incident internally before it grows into a bigger problem.

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