Anthony Edwards leaves bench after Finch pulls starters
edwards-exits-bench-after-starters-pulled-vs-hawks
ATLANTA — Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards walked off the court during a fourth-quarter timeout of Wednesday’s 126-102 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, departing after head coach Chris Finch removed his starters.
The incident occurred with 7:52 remaining and Atlanta ahead 109-80. Edwards threw his towel, left the bench area and headed to the locker room without team approval.
Edwards, who grew up in Atlanta and played at the University of Georgia, did not speak to reporters afterward. Finch said the 22-year-old should have stayed to support teammates.
Obviously frustrated with the performance and rightfully so, but he needs to stay out on the floor and root for his team,
the coach told reporters.
Before exiting, Edwards scored a team-high 30 points on 10-for-18 shooting, including three three-pointers, in 33 minutes. He entered the night averaging 29.1 points, eighth in the NBA.
Wednesday’s walk-off came six days after Edwards was ejected in overtime of Minnesota’s 142-138 defeat at Denver for arguing foul calls, a game in which he scored 44 points.
Friends and family, including his grandfather, were in attendance at State Farm Arena to watch the hometown star.
Source: ESPN
