The Phoenix Suns needed a statement win. Instead, they got a reality check.

T-Wolves star Anthony Edwards put on an absolute clinic, torching the Suns for 44 points, seven assists, and five rebounds. But the biggest moment about the night wasn’t just about the buckets; things got chippy. With just 1:35 left in the game, ANT went airborne for a dunk, only to be sent crashing to the floor by Bradley Beal.

The Suns guard fouled Edwards midair, and the Wolves’ bench did not take it lightly. As Ant-Man hit the ground hard, Beal helped him up, but for some reason, he didn’t walk way. Instead, he stepped right in front of the Minnesota bench and exchanged words—heated words.

Duane Rankin detailed the moment: “Beal fouled Edwards while he was in the air. Edwards landed hard, Beal helped him up and for some reason stopped in front of the T-Wolves bench and started having a conversation. The convo got a bit heated to the point Randle just moved Beal away from the bench. Play under review. #Suns.”

Interestingly enough, the officials initially ruled it not in favor of Anthony Edwards. However, they successfully challenged the call, hitting Beal with a Flagrant 1, confirming what everyone had already seen—a reckless foul in a frustrating night for Phoenix.

Despite the late-game tension, Edwards continued his onslaught, proving once again why he’s one of the league’s rising superstars. Phoenix, on the other hand? A mess. For one, they ended the game with a 116-98 in front of 17,000 home fans in attendance at the Footprint Center.

Furthermore, they coughed up 20 turnovers, shot 43.8% from the field, and got outworked on both ends. Kevin Durant did his best to keep them afloat with 26 points and 10 rebounds, while Beal added 18 points and Devin Booker 17—but it wasn’t nearly enough.

After the game, Durant didn’t hold back. “We embarrassed the fans and we embarrassed ourselves the way we played,” he admitted. And honestly? He’s not wrong. This is Phoenix’s 11th loss in their last 14 games, and with the Western Conference race tightening up, they need answers—fast.

Meanwhile, the Timberwolves are rolling! And ANT? Yeah, he’s looking scarier by the game.

How Anthony Edwards and Co. were able to script the win

To understand that, we must first understand where the Suns went wrong. The team ended the first quarter with a 6-point advantage, and at the halfway stage, they still had a 2-point lead. But the second half was all about the Wolves. And if you thought it was all Ant-Man’s contribution, think again. He had quite the help from others, as well.

Julius Randle, playing for the first time in a month, looked sharp with 20 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Donte DiVincenzo, in what would become his best game since returning from a turf toe injury, put up 24 points, six steals, two assists, and two rebounds. Thus beckoning the first player to hit seven or more threes and snag five-plus steals off the bench. With the win, the Timberwolves look poised to make a move in the Western Conference playoff race.

On the other hand, the Suns had a full roster of healthy players but still couldn’t beat another playoff-caliber team. Currently, they are 4 games behind the final play-in spot. To make matters worse, they already have suffered 33 defeats this season, which was the total losses last season.