What started as a rough night for Anthony Edwards quickly unraveled into a disastrous one. The Minnesota Timberwolves star was ejected in the third quarter of Thursday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers, culminating in an outburst that saw him hurl the ball into the stands before heading to the locker room.
The sequence unfolded as Edwards attempted to drive past Lakers guard Gabe Vincent, only to stumble while executing a step-back move.
Frustrated by the lack of a foul call, he immediately began protesting to the officials while still on the floor. Meanwhile, Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt seized the moment to force a jump ball.
Edwards’ heated complaints did not go unnoticed. Official Brent Barnaky quickly assessed him a technical foul—his second of the night—leading to an automatic ejection. His first technical had come earlier in the game following a separate altercation with Vanderbilt that resulted in a shoving match.
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Clearly seething over his ejection, the 23-year-old Edwards clutched the ball in frustration as he processed the moment. Then, just before exiting the court, he angrily launched the ball into the stands, an act that could result in additional disciplinary action from the NBA.
The Timberwolves struggled without their star guard and ultimately fell to the Lakers 111-102. However, Edwards’ issues extend beyond just the loss.
His ejection marked his 16th technical foul of the season, triggering an automatic one-game suspension per league rules. Unless the technical is rescinded, Edwards will be forced to miss Minnesota’s upcoming contest against the Utah Jazz on Friday.
Furthermore, the NBA has strict policies regarding players throwing objects into the crowd, with hefty fines and potential suspensions often levied for such behavior. Edwards now faces the possibility of further financial penalties on top of his suspension.
Adding to his troubles, every two technical fouls he receives beyond his 16th will result in additional one-game bans, meaning he’ll have to tread carefully for the remainder of the season if he wants to avoid missing more crucial games.
For Edwards and the Timberwolves, Thursday’s game turned from a frustrating loss into a costly night with potential ramifications extending well beyond the final score.
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