Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards suspended after 16th technical foul
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 will serve his suspension during Friday night's game against the Utah Jazz, the NBA announced.
"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.