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Timberwolves sweep Suns to advance in playoffs; coach Chris Finch injured

Chris Hine, Star Tribune on

Published in Basketball

The Timberwolves weren't going to win their first playoff series since 2004 the easy way, but after sweeping Phoenix with a 122-116 victory in Game 4, the Wolves are advancing to the second round of the playoffs for just the second time in franchise history.

The game featured another mythmaking performance from Anthony Edwards, who scored 40 points, one of the best postseason performances of Karl-Anthony Towns' career (28 points) – and it even had an extra dose of drama with a late-game injury to Wolves coach Chris Finch, who needed help off the sideline before the game was over after a late collision with Mike Conley.

Edwards began to send the crowd home early with a breakaway dunk with 19.5 seconds remaining, capping a masterful second half after he struggled to get going in the first. Edwards his seven threes on the night, six of those coming in the second half. He needed some help along the way, and Towns provided a steady stream of offense throughout the night, even as the Wolves couldn't hit early.

That helped the Wolves overcome 49 points from Devin Booker and 33 from Kevin Durant. It helped that Bradley Beal fouled out for the Suns after just nine points.

The Wolves threw haymakers at Phoenix in the form of threes by Edwards and Jaden McDaniels that had the Wolves a 113-109 lead with just over three minutes to play. After two Booker free throws, Conley missed a three before Nickeil Alexander-Walker got a steal on the other end, then Edwards took to the air for an authoritative slam to put the Wolves up 115-11 with 2:12 to go.

Alexander-Walker made another key defensive play, forcing a Beal turnover and then Beal fouled out on the Wolves next trip down the floor.

 

There was a scary moment after that when Finch needed help up after a collision with Conley as a foul forced Conley out of bounds. The game stopped momentarily as the Wolves athletic training staff attended to Finch, who was favoring his right leg. It appeared Finch remained in the arena initially behind the Wolves bench as assistant Micah Nori took over on the sideline.

The Wolves used a 7-0 run after falling behind 99-95 to take a 102-99 lead on a Towns bucket with 7:01 left before Beal picked up his fifth foul on the next possession.

McDaniels added 18 for the Wolves.

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