LOS ANGELES (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards was suspended one game without pay by the NBA on Friday after picking up his 16th technical foul of the season during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Edwards, who vowed last month that he wouldn't get any more technicals, was called for two of them Thursday night in a 111-102 loss and automatically ejected. He sat out Friday night when the Timberwolves visited the Utah Jazz.
NBA rules state a player receives a one-game suspension after picking up 16 technical fouls in a season. For every two additional technicals, the suspension will increase by one game.
“He’s apologetic. He understands. I think he’s remorseful. I think he’s also frustrated by the whole run of events. He knows he needs to get better," Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. "Hopefully, it’s gotten to a point where it has boiled over and he learns his lesson going forward."
The league did not say if Edwards would be fined for throwing the ball into the stands after being ejected. He had already been docked $285,000 for five different transgressions, mostly language, when he said after a $50,000 penalty on Jan. 13 for an obscene gesture that he wouldn’t get any more technical fouls.
“Ant’s a pleasant guy. He’s not an angry guy. He’s not a mean guy. He’s not like always cursing at the officials. It’s just these outbursts he has that come out of frustration,” Finch said. "Ninety percent of his personality and interaction is super pleasant, usually smiling and happy. (He) loves the game.
"For me, the concern is obviously the missed games and just the amount of technicals in general. But I don’t want him to be unfairly labeled.”
The Timberwolves trailed 74-59 when Edwards was ejected with 5:21 remaining in the third quarter. They rallied to within three midway through the fourth quarter before losing.
Crew chief James Williams said in a pool report that Edwards received his second technical for directing profanity toward an official. Edwards was upset after he felt Lakers guard Gabe Vincent should have been called for a blocking foul as Edwards tried to drive.
Los Angeles' Jarred Vanderbilt and Edwards received technical fouls before the start of the second quarter after both shoved each other at the end of the first quarter.
Edwards, who is fourth in the league in scoring at 27.3 points per game, had 18 points in 26 minutes.
Associated Press freelance writer John Coon in Salt Lake City contributed to this report.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, shoots as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, center, and guard Anthony Edwards defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
ROME (AP) — There were plenty of Filipino flags waving in support of Alexandra Eala amid the statues lining the picturesque Pietrangeli court at the Italian Open on Friday.
Eala beat 31st-seeded Wang Xinyu 6-4, 6-3 to follow up her three-set victory over Magdalena French in the opening round and put together consecutive clay-court victories for the first time since the qualifying rounds for the 2024 French Open.
“Yes, I did notice it,” Eala said of the Filipino support in Rome.
The 20-year-old Eala has become a worldwide sensation among the large Filipino diaspora ever since her breakthrough run to the Miami Open semifinals last year. Her fan base expanded again when she beat Clara Tauson in a long third-set tiebreaker in the first round at the U.S. Open last year for her first win in a major.
She attracted more attention at this year’s Australian Open — the closest Grand Slam to the Philippines.
Eala also noticed Filipino flags hanging outside a building on her way to visit the Vatican this week.
“I was like, ‘OK, we really are everywhere.’ And then I later learned that that’s the embassy of the Philippines to the Vatican,” she said. “And funny story: My great grandmother, she used to work there way back when. So it was full circle or something sentimental.”
While Eala prefers faster surfaces, she has plenty of access to clay courts at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain where she's based.
“I have a great team, very knowledgeable, and they are definitely guiding me and navigating me through this phase of the tour,” Eala said. “I trust in them a lot.
“What I’ve been trying to do is just be very patient and kind of try to enjoy being in that mode or that kind of mindset of being physically pushed and trying to stay in that suffering kind of zone."
While Eala is preparing for the French Open, her favorite Grand Slam remains Wimbledon.
“Growing up, Wimbledon was always the Grand Slam for me because I loved the tradition and seeing it from afar was very beautiful,” Eala said. “I saw everyone was in all white, the grass was so green, everything very elegant. So I carry that opinion until now.”
Eala has played in the main draw of the last four Grand Slams. So Roland Garros will mark her second time around in that category. She’s ranked No. 42.
“I haven’t been past a second round in a Grand Slam,” she said, “so that would be nice.”
Being based in Spain — the Nadal academy is in Manacor on the Balearic Islands — has helped Eala learn a third language after Filipino and English. During the recent Madrid Open she was able to do interviews in Spanish.
“To be able to get out of my shell and really break that barrier of being embarrassed was a great step for me," she said. “Having a third language is really a great skill and it’s very useful so I’m quite proud of myself.”
Eala’s emergence helped the Philippines host a WTA 125-level tournament in January. Amid huge attention, she reached the quarterfinals.
“Every time I go home I’m able to experience Manila in a different light because thankfully I’ve been getting better and better,” Eala said. “Home will always be home and I love going back there.”
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
FILE - Supporters of Alexandra Eala of the Philippines react during her first round match against Alycia Parks of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin, File)
FILE - Alexandra Eala of the Philippines waves to her supporters following her first round loss to Alycia Parks of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin, File)
