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Timberwolves Coach Calls Out Anthony Edwards for Leaving Bench in Fourth Quarter

Chris Finch subbed out the Timberwolves starters with 7:52 remaining in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's blowout loss, leading to Edwards's exit.

Tim Capurso

Edwards finished Wednesday's 126-102 loss to the Hawks with a team-high 30 points.
Edwards finished Wednesday's 126-102 loss to the Hawks with a team-high 30 points. / Screengrab Twitter @MrBuckBuckNBA via FanDuel Sports Network broadcast
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Anthony Edwards headed for the locker room and an early shower in the midst of the Timberwolves' 126-102 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on New Year's Eve. The Timberwolves, who never held a lead and at one point trailed the Hawks by as many as 34 points, waved the white flag halfway through the fourth quarter when coach Chris Finch, after calling a timeout, subbed out all five starters with 7:52 remaining in the game and Minnesota down by 29 points. Evidently, Finch's informal surrender frustrated one of his chief lieutenants, and the Timberwolves' best player, Anthony Edwards. Moments after being substituted out of the game, the three-time All-Star threw a towel and headed not for the Timberwolves bench, but for the locker room in a surprising scene.

Edwards finished the contest with a team-high 30 points, five rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal in 33 minutes. He declined to speak to the media after the game.

Edwards called out by Finch after the game

Finch was understanding of Edwards's frustrations on a night when the Timberwolves didn't play its best as a collective unit. But Finch was also clear that Edwards's behavior was not acceptable.

“Obviously frustrated with the performance and rightfully so,” Finch said. “But he needs to stay out on the floor and root for his team.”

In his sixth year in the league, Edwards is averaging 29.1 points (eighth in the NBA), 5.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists while shooting 39.6 percent from three-point range.

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Tim Capurso
TIM CAPURSO

Tim Capurso is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Prior to joining SI in November 2023, he wrote for RotoBaller and ClutchPoints, where he was the lead editor for MLB, college football and NFL coverage. A lifelong Yankees and Giants fan, Capurso grew up just outside New York City and now lives near Philadelphia. When he's not writing, he enjoys reading, exercising and spending time with his family, including his three-legged cat Willow, who, unfortunately, is an Eagles fan.

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