Edwards and Towns lead Timberwolves into the 2nd round of the NBA playoffs for 1st time since 2004

PHOENIX (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves are off to the second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time in 20 years.

Their first-round sweep of the Phoenix Suns served notice they might be ready to go even deeper.

Anthony Edwards scored 40 points, Karl-Anthony Towns added 28 and the Timberwolves pulled away late to beat the Suns 122-116 on Sunday night and sweep the first-round playoff series.

The victory came after coach Chris Finch left the game late in the fourth after an inadvertent collision with Wolves guard Mike Conley. The team said he had a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee.

The success for Minnesota has been a long time coming, particularly for Towns, who was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in 2015 and waited nearly a decade to get his first playoff series win. Edwards is in his fourth season after being the No. 1 overall selection in 2020.

“I couldn’t be happier,” Towns said before looking at Edwards. “Playing with my man on my right just makes it more special. To be able to do it with someone I have so much admiration for, so much respect for.

"The future’s so bright for him, I’ve got to put my sunglasses on.”

The Suns swept the three-game, regular-season series from the Wolves, but Minnesota flipped that script in the postseason by wearing down a Phoenix team that had championship aspirations with their All-Star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.

The 35-year-old Durant — who Edwards said was his favorite player growing up — offered nothing but praise for the young star.

“So impressed with Ant,” Durant said. "My favorite player to watch. Just grown up so much since he came into the league. His love for the game shines bright. That's one of the reasons I like him the most, because he just loves basketball, he's grateful to be in this position and he's taken advantage of every opportunity he's gotten.

“I love everything about Ant. Everything.”

The Wolves will play either the Denver Nuggets or Los Angeles Lakers in the second round. The Nuggets have a 3-1 lead with Game 5 on Monday night.

It's understandable that the Wolves might take a day or two to enjoy this series win. Minnesota was knocked out of the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, including in five games against the Nuggets last season.

They might get another crack at them soon.

The Wolves were a handful for the Suns throughout the series, flashing a deep roster that includes veteran point guard Mike Conley, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, defensive star Rudy Gobert, sixth man of the year Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels.

But there's little doubt Edwards and Towns lead the show.

Edwards had just nine points in the first half before unloading on the Suns after the break, which was enough to overcome Booker's 49 points. His powerful, one-handed jam late in the fourth sealed the win.

“That was the gameplan, get everyone involved,” Edwards said. “But in the second half, it's time to win. I've got to shoot my shots.”

The Wolves have slowly improved under third-year coach Finch, who was replaced by assistant Micah Nori for the final 1:41 as the Wolves pulled away to win.

Nori said Finch was in good spirits after the game and will be ready to lead the team going forward.

“It's just one series win, you don't want to overblow it, but it's the next step in the progression for all our guys,” Nori said.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels, right, drives past Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) gets past the Phoenix Suns defense for a dunk during the second half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Phoenix. The Timberwolves won 122-116, taking the series 4-0. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Phoenix Suns forward Josh Okogie (2) dunks against Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) during the second half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Phoenix. The Timberwolves won 122-116, taking the series 4-0. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Minnesota Timberwolves players celebrate a score against the Phoenix Suns during the second half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Phoenix. The Timberwolves won 122-116, taking the series 4-0. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards celebrates a foul against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Phoenix. The Timberwolves won 122-116, taking the series 4-0. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A disability rights advocate made a complaint to New York State Police saying he was shoved twice in the state capitol building by state Sen. Kevin Parker, a Brooklyn Democrat with a history of violent behavior.

Michael Carey said his confrontation with Parker took place Wednesday after he approached the senator before a committee meeting and asked him to cosponsor a piece of legislation. Parker lost his temper, Carey said, after the advocate described the legislation as tackling a “Dr. Martin Luther King type of situation” regarding discrimination against people with disabilities.

Carey said the senator got inches from his face and yelled “I don't care.”

Carey, who became an advocate after his son Jonathan died while in state care, said he responded "You don’t care that my son died?”

He said Parker then grabbed him by his shoulders and shoved him, causing him to stumble backward. Carey said Parker then shoved him again.

“I was shocked. I couldn’t believe what happened,” Carey told The Associated Press.

Parker opened a committee meeting after the incident by joking that he hoped it would be “as exciting as the pre-game.”

His office did not respond to requests for comment.

New York State Police said Wednesday that they responded to a “disturbance," but didn’t elaborate.

The office of Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins did not respond to questions asking about the incident.

Parker has a history of physical altercations.

In 2005, he was arrested on a third-degree assault charge after he was accused of punching a traffic agent who gave him a ticket for double-parking. The same year, he had his pass for state buildings temporarily suspended for violating security regulations. Two former aides complained that Parker had physically assaulted them in separate incidents. One said he shoved her and smashed her glasses at a campaign office. Parker wasn't charged in either incident.

In 2009, Parker was arrested again after he chased a New York Post photographer and damaged his camera. He was ultimately convicted of misdemeanor criminal mischief charges. The Senate majority leader at the time, Malcolm Smith, stripped Parker of his position as majority whip.

Last year, Parker was accused in a lawsuit of raping a woman early in his legislative career. The lawsuit is still pending. Parker called the rape accusation “absolutely untrue.”

Carey said he had wanted Parker's support for legislation requiring staff in state and private facilities to report incidents of suspected abuse or neglect of vulnerable people to a 911 operator.

Maysoon Khan is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

FILE - New York Sen. Kevin Parker, D-Brooklyn, stands at the podium, flanked by Senate members, Feb. 6, 2017, during a news conference at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y. A disability rights advocate made a complaint to New York State Police saying he was shoved twice in the state Capitol building by Parker, a Brooklyn Democrat with a history of violent behavior. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink, File)