In a post-game interview following the Minnesota Timberwolves’ fourth consecutive loss to the Sacramento Kings, Anthony Edwards expressed his frustration and disappointment with both his team’s performance and the fans’ reaction. The 23-year-old shooting guard did not hold back, openly criticizing his own teammates for being “soft” and calling out the fans at Target Center for their “disrespectful” behavior.
“The fans f****** booing us,” Edwards exclaimed, as reported by John Krawczynski of The Athletic. “That s*** is crazy, man. We’re getting booed in our own home arena. That’s so f****** disrespectful it’s crazy.”
Although the booing from the crowd may not have been constant or overpowering, it was enough to catch the attention of those watching in the arena and on TV. Fans were especially dismayed as they witnessed the Timberwolves squander a double-digit lead during the final stretch of the game.
The loss to the Kings marked Minnesota’s first double-digit defeat during their ongoing losing streak and dropped their overall record to 8-10 for the season. This decline comes just months after their impressive run to the 2024 Western Conference Finals as the No. 3 seed.
So how did this once-promising team come up short against Sacramento? According to Edwards, one of their key issues lies in their tendency to perform better when trailing but falter when ahead—a trait he described as being “frontrunners.” Unfortunately, this pattern repeated itself during their game against the Kings, where they relinquished a second-half lead and ultimately let victory slip through their fingers.
Despite Edwards’ impressive individual performance of 29 points, it wasn’t enough to secure a win. De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis led the charge for Sacramento, combining for 53 points, while Malik Monk contributed 27 off the bench. Fox, in particular, dominated the Timberwolves’ defense, displaying his prowess in the paint and adding eight rebounds and eight assists to his stat line.
Julius Randle led Minnesota’s losing effort with 21 points, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker provided a spark off the bench with 17 points. Mike Conley also had a season-high performance of 16 points. However, no other player on the team managed to reach double figures.
With only one day to recover, the Timberwolves face another tough challenge as they prepare to host the red-hot Los Angeles Clippers in a nationally televised game on Friday night. The Clippers have won six of their last seven games and are led by James Harden, who is coming off a standout performance of 43 points.
As Edwards and his teammates look to turn their fortunes around and regain support from their fans, it remains to be seen whether they can overcome adversity both on and off the court. The upcoming game against the Clippers will undoubtedly test their resilience and determination.