Karl-Anthony Towns delivered a season-high 40 points and 12 rebounds, along with Anthony Edwards scoring 37 points in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ commanding 127-109 win over the Indiana Pacers during the Saturday’s NBA slate.
“He’s been like that since I’ve been here,” Edwards said of Towns. “He’s always been efficient, gets us points. Tries to do everything he can to help us win. He’s always been like that. It’s not impressive to me, I’m used to seeing it. That’s KAT.”
Naz Reid scored 17 points, and Kyle Anderson dished out 10 assists, aiding Minnesota’s near-perfect home record of 11-1. The Timberwolves are tied with the Boston Celtics for the NBA’s best overall record at 19-5.
Towns’ performance was his best scoring output since his career-high 60 points, occurring late last season. Edwards was just one point short of his season high, with both players scoring 27 points each in the first half, fueling a hot start for Minnesota. In the opening half, the Timberwolves shot a season-high 55.8% shooting, including an impressive 60% on 18 made 3-pointers.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers Updates
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, recognized the Wolves as one of the best teams and saw the game as a valuable experience for his young players. Bruce Brown and Aaron Nesmith each scored 17 points for the Pacers, with Myles Turner, T.J. McConnell, and Isaiah Jackson scoring double figures. Despite shooting 50%, the Pacers suffered their first three-game losing streak this season.
“This is one of the best teams on the planet,” Carlisle said. “… It’s a good experience to battle these guys. Our young guys got some great experience tonight.”
Indiana, facing a demanding schedule with its fourth game in six nights, played without leading scorer Tyrese Haliburton, averaging 25.7 points and 12 assists per game, due to a knee injury. Travel delays further complicated their schedule.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers Updates
Towns dominated early, but Indiana initially led using a balanced attack. Edwards’s explosive second quarter, including four 3-pointers, gave Minnesota a narrow halftime advantage. This was a significant contrast from his performance against the Dallas Mavericks in the team’s previous outing.
“Our defense did a good job getting us into this game tonight,” Towns said. “Offensively, it’s great to hit some shots, but being able to fall back on our identity and our standards defensively found our way to the win.”
Minnesota’s strong third quarter, highlighted by Reid and Troy Brown Jr.’s 3-pointers and Rudy Gobert’s defensive efforts, only helped in creating separation. The Timberwolves’ defense, the best in the league, played a key role in securing the win, as noted by Towns. Jaden McDaniels left the game with a tailbone injury, becoming something to watch as the Timberwolves approach their next outing.
Next, the Pacers will host the Los Angeles Clippers, while the Timberwolves face the Miami Heat. Both games are scheduled for Monday.
