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The biggest storyline in Game 1 was Edwards further announcing himself as one of the league’s top players. He fed off the energy of the crowd, carried his team for extended stretches and even talked trash to Durant as Minnesota pulled away in a blowout.

Phoenix seemed determined to prevent that from happening again, though, and held Edwards to just five points in the first half. Yet the visitors led by just a single point because Conley, Gobert and McDaniels all exerted themselves as scorers to make up for a quiet start from Minnesota’s No. 1 option.

The supporting cast keeping it close was all the more important because Towns also spent most of the first half on the bench because of foul trouble.

It proved costly from the Suns’ perspective that they didn’t take more advantage of the slow starts from Edwards and Towns. Minnesota took the lead in the third quarter with Edwards getting to the free-throw line and Towns scoring eight straight points for his side in a mini spurt.