Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves roll over Phoenix Suns in Game 1

Kevin Durant's 31 points weren't enough as the Phoenix Suns were routed 120-95 by Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in their Western Conference first-round playoff series opener on Saturday.

In Minnesota's first win over Phoenix this season, Edwards put on a show for the Minnesota home crowd. He scored the game-high 33 points (14-of-24, 4-of-8 from deep), grabbed nine rebounds, six assists, and two steals.

Edwards' final steal was at 3:40 left to play, which led to his open-court dunk to extend Minnesota's lead to 18. Suns coach Frank Vogel conceded the loss after that play, and took out his starters after being down most of the game, including a 27-point margin in the fourth.

Devin Booker had 18 points and Bradley Beal 15 for the Suns, and Phoenix's top role player performances were from Royce O'Neale (14 points) and their big Jusuf Nurkic (nine points, four rebounds, three blocks, two steals). Grayson Allen (4 points, 5 rebounds) left the game in third quarter after spraining his ankle.

Minnesota's big Rudy Gobert produced 14 points and game-high 16 rebounds, and the team's sixth man Naz Reid (12 points) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 18 points plus the game-high four steals off the bench.

The Suns play Game 2 at the Timberwolves on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

This is the first playoff game together for Phoenix's Big 3 of Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant. Minnesota is led by All-Stars Karl-Anthony Towns and high-flyer Anthony Edwards, as well as Defensive Player of the Year frontrunner Rudy Gobert.

Check here at azcentral for live coverage of scores and highlights during the Suns-Timberwolves Game 1.

T-wolves' Edwards explodes in 3rd, Suns' Allen questionable to return

Kevin Durant put up 10 of his 28 points in the third, but the Suns had no answer for Anthony Edwards as the Timberwolves built a 92-72 lead in the third, Minnesota's biggest margin.

Edwards posted 18 of his 28 points in the quarter and made two straight treys in the closing minute to extend the lead. The Timberwolves finished the quarter on a 19-4 run. The Suns haven’t led the Timberwolves since 32-31 at 10:26 in the second quarter, but got close when the Suns trimmed the lead to four around the third quarter's seven-minute mark.

Suns starter Grayson Allen (four points, 0-for-3) injured his right ankle late in the third, and is questionable to return.

Suns struggle, T-Wolves surge in 2nd quarter

Kevin Durant (game-high 18 points) continued to lead Phoenix's offensive attack in the second quarter, but they faced a double-digit deficit to Minnesota, 61-51, at the break.

The Timberwolves got a major boost from Karl-Anthony Towns and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Towns scored 11 of his 13 points in the second, and Alexander-Walker had seven of his 12 points off the bench during the period as well.

After Durant’s two made free throws had Phoenix cut into Minnesota’s lead at 43-39 at 5:34 left in the half, the Timberwolves went on an 8-2 run for the game’s first double-digit lead at 3:25. Then with 1:11 left in the half, Walker made a transition layup off his steal from Grayson Allen's errant pass to put Minnesota up by 12. Jaden McDaniels hit two straight foul shots after he was fouled by Bradley Beal following Towns' interception of Durant's pass on the next Suns possession.

Devin Booker and Bradley Beal have been relatively quiet with seven and eight points each. The Suns have been dominated in second chance points, 16-2.

Durant's hot shooting pushes Suns in tight 1st quarter

Kevin Durant began with a hot hand as he scored 11 points (5-of-9 shooting), just under half of Phoenix’s total, and the team led Minnesota, 28-27 at the end of the opening period.

Anthony Edwards' seven points (3-of-5 FG), and Rudy Gobert's six (3-of-3) led the Timberwolves.

It was a competitive first quarter compared to the three previous meetings, in which Phoenix dominated Minnesota from the onset in their regular-season series. There were six ties and seven lead changes. The Suns' and Timberwolves' biggest leads were five and three, respectively.

Royce O'Neale made his second trey as time expired to put the Suns ahead by one. He had six points in the quarter.

Starting lineups

The Suns are starting Devin Booker and Bradley Beal in the backcourt, Grayson Allen, Kevin Durant at the four spot and Jusuf Nurkic in the middle.

The Timberwolves are opening with Mike Conley Jr. running the point, Anthony Edwards, swingman Jaden McDaniels, Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert at the five.

Injury reports: Suns' Lee remains out, T-wolves at full strength

The only person on Phoenix's injury report is shooting guard Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery), who's been out all season.

Every Minnesota player is ready to go against the Suns.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves roll over Phoenix Suns in Game 1