Anthony Edwards draws criticism for congratulating Spurs early in blowout loss

The Minnesota Timberwolves season ended Friday night with a 30-point loss to the San Antonio Spurs at Target Center.

The defeat added another disappointment for Minneapolis fans who have seen repeated near-misses in recent decades. The team fell short of a conference finals appearance for the first time since its 2004 postseason run.

With just over eight minutes left in the fourth quarter and the Timberwolves trailing by 33 points, star guard Anthony Edwards walked to the Spurs bench and congratulated the players. The gesture was captured on the broadcast score graphic.

Edwards has built a reputation for a competitive style that many observers say the league lacks. Still, the early handshake drew sharp reactions from fans on social media.

Former NBA players Dirk Nowitzki, Blake Griffin and Udonis Haslem also criticized the move. Nowitzki said he had never seen anything like it during his 20-year career.

Edwards is 23 years old. Observers said the moment was a rare misstep for the Timberwolves leader.