Anthony Edwards Leaves Bench As Timberwolves Fall To Hawks

Merlin sees Anthony Edwards walk off during a timeout and head to the locker room with 7:52 left in a 126 102 loss to Atlanta after Coach Chris Finch pulled the starters. Finch said "Obviously frustrated with the performance and rightfully so, but he needs to stay out on the floor and root for his team." Edwards still scored 30 on 10 of 18, but no teammate had more than 10, and Minnesota, 21 13, has lost three of four. Merlin notes Edwards is having a career year at 29.1 points, 5 boards and 3.7 assists while shooting nearly 50 percent, yet the Wolves rely almost entirely on his scoring. After a Christmas ejection and his line "Man, I don't know, it be the same answers every time. I don't know, we got to change something," Minnesota must find balance or risk wasting his breakout season.