Anthony Edwards was cited for two cases of third-degree assault after allegedly hitting two women with a chair at the end of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ series-loss to the Denver Nuggets, according to Denver Sports’ Jake Shapiro.
The alleged incident occurred when the final buzzer sounded in Game 5 on Tuesday in Denver, a 112-109 Nuggets comeback win that ended the first-round series 4-1. Edwards missed an attempt at a would-be-game-tying 3-pointer, then ran off the court as other players exchanged handshakes.
Another angle of Anthony Edwards’ postgame incident pic.twitter.com/9ZENsEMzzx
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) April 26, 2023
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At that point, Denver police allege that Edwards picked up a chair and swung it, hitting a security guard in the back and a second worker after the chair was thrown. Both employees were reportedly injured, neither seriously, and asked to file charges against Edwards.
The incident seemed to be briefly captured on the NBA TV broadcast, in which Edwards can be seen running with a chair then swinging it down toward a woman, who immediately reacts to the contact. Another woman across the walkway also reacts as the chair moves toward her.
The Timberwolves responded to the allegations with a brief statement Wednesday, saying they were aware of the incident and still gathering information:
“We are aware of the alleged incident regarding Anthony Edwards following Game 5 in Denver and are in the process of gathering more information. We have no further comment at this moment.”
The ugly moment came at the end of a breakout series for Edwards, even though his team lost. The former No. 1 overall pick averaged 31.6 points, 5.2 assists and 5 rebounds per game in the five-game series.
Edwards came under fire last year when he posted a video in which he used a homophobic slur, for which he apologized and was fined $40,000 by the NBA.
Anthony Edwards could face legal action,per @DenverSportsCom
“A law enforcement source said Edwards picked up a chair & swung it, striking a security guard…A source confirmed the incident and said both employees were injured & asked to file charges.”
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) April 26, 2023
It has been some wild things going on in the NBA this playoff season. As we previously reported, the NBA decided to suspend Draymond Green for one game without pay after he stomped on Domantas Sabonis’ chest during a recent Golden State Warriors game against the Sacramento Kings.
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Draymond Green is known for his intense competitive spirit and fiery personality on the basketball court, which can sometimes lead to displays of anger or frustration. This has resulted in a number of incidents over the course of his career, including multiple ejections from games and a few instances of on-court altercations with other players.
While some have criticized Green’s behavior as unsportsmanlike or disruptive, others argue that his intensity and emotional engagement with the game are important aspects of his success as a player. Green himself has acknowledged that his emotions can sometimes get the better of him on the court, but has also emphasized the importance of channeling that passion in a positive way to benefit his team.