Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards will miss Sunday’s regular-season finale after picking up his league-leading 18th technical foul during Friday’s win over Brooklyn. The tech came after Edwards used profanity while arguing a call in the Wolves’ 117-91 victory.
This marks Edwards’ second suspension of the season for technical fouls.
NBA rules require players to sit out one game after receiving 16 technicals during the regular season, with additional one-game suspensions for every two techs after that.
The Timberwolves are hoping the league will rescind this latest technical. Edwards previously served a suspension on February 28 when Minnesota narrowly lost to Utah 117-116.
The incident happened midway through the second quarter when Edwards was called for a personal foul while guarding Brooklyn’s Keon Johnson. After the whistle, Edwards spread his arms in disbelief and exchanged words with official Ray Acosta.
Crew chief Bill Kennedy later told reporters the technical was specifically for profanity directed at Acosta.
“I tried to play good defense. They called a foul,” Edwards explained after the game. “And he gave me a tech. I hope they look at it and rescind it, so I can play in a couple days… I’m praying they rescind it.”
Edwards doesn’t believe the call was warranted.
“I don’t feel like it should’ve been a tech, but me and Ray got a good relationship. We talked it out after the fact. But I don’t think I deserved a tech for just that little gesture.”
Coach Chris Finch backed his star player, calling the technical an overreaction.
“I did not really get a good or clear explanation of why the technical occurred. It didn’t seem like there was anything egregious or overly demonstrative,” Finch said.
This isn’t Edwards’ first run-in with the league office. Beyond his technicals, he’s been fined six separate times totaling $320,000 for various infractions.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Minnesota. At 48-33, the Timberwolves’ playoff positioning hangs in the balance heading into their final game. They could finish as high as fourth in the Western Conference—securing home-court advantage for the first round—or fall as low as eighth, which would force them into the play-in tournament.
A top-six finish would guarantee them a playoff spot without having to go through the play-in games.
