NBA playoffs 2024: Minnesota Timberwolves sweep Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks on brink of early exit to Indiana Pacers

Anthony Edwards can't wait to "talk trash" to his hero Kevin Durant after the Minnesota Timberwolves completed a series sweep of the Phoenix Suns to punch their ticket into the Western Conference semi-finals.

'Ant-Man' top scored for the Timberwolves with 40 points in a 122-116 victory on Sunday night, rounding out the 4-0 demolition in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

A Phoenix team built around the superstar talents of Devin Booker and Durant held a lead going into the fourth quarter on their home court, but Edwards put on a show to steal the headlines, including a monster dunk over Durant to put the Timberwolves ahead in the final two minutes.

Booker put up 49 points - a career-high in the playoffs - while Durant also added 33 in vain. Edwards, meanwhile, scored 31 of his 40 points in the second half - although he was keen to divert the plaudits to team-mate Karl-Anthony Towns, who chipped in with 28 points and 10 rebounds.

The 22-year-old told TNT Sports: "The most satisfying moment of the night for me was KAT. A lot of people think the reason we won was me, but without KAT in that second half, we wouldn't have been close to winning. Shout out to KAT, he played his a** off tonight."

He added on one-time NBA champion Durant, who he will play with for Team USA in the Olympic Games this summer: "Man, it felt great. I got the utmost respect for KD. I watched every last one of his games since I was five. I love that guy.

"I'm excited to play with him this summer - talk a little trash and let him know I sent him home!"

Reflecting on Edwards' display in the series, TNT Sports analyst and Suns legend Charles Barkley said: "He galvanises that team. They know he's 'the dude'. Every team that's successful has to have 'a dude' who galvanises the troops.

"He makes all these basketball plays, but his mentality, that's what makes him special. It's beautiful to watch.

"When you have a dawg, you got a chance, because everybody going to follow that dawg. That's a grown-a** man."

The Timberwolves will now play either the No. 2 seed and reigning champion Denver Nuggets, or the No. 7 seed and LeBron James-powered Los Angeles Lakers in the next round.

The Nuggets lead the series 3-1.

Elsewhere, the Milwaukee Bucks are on the verge of an early exit to the Indiana Pacers. Still without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who missed the previous two losses through injury, the Bucks also added Damian Lillard to the treatment table for game four.

To make matters worse, a third starter, Bobby Portis, was ejected early during Sunday evening's defeat after a heated exchange with Andrew Nembhard. The Pacers ultimately cruised to a 126-113 win, with Myles Turner leading the charge on 29 points.

Indiana can clinch a place in the East's final four, where they'll play either the New York Knicks or Philadelphia 76ers, with another victory in Milwaukee on Tuesday night.

The Knicks are a win away from beating the 76ers after taking a 3-1 lead in their series.

The Los Angeles Clippers held off a thrilling late fightback from the Dallas Mavericks to level up at 2-2.

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