Anthony Edwards’ standout performance of 38 points led the Minnesota Timberwolves, atop the Western Conference, to a 118-107 victory over the Washington Wizards during Wednesday’s NBA action, avoiding a three-game losing streak.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 27 points, and Rudy Gobert contributed 19 points and 16 rebounds, bouncing back from a disappointing loss to Charlotte, where Towns scored 62 points but received criticism from coach Chris Finch for the team’s overall play.
Edwards acknowledged the team faced tough criticism after the loss but emphasized the importance of moving forward.
“We got cussed out about it, but eventually, you’ve got to flush it,” Edwards said.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves, Washington Wizards Updates
Finch was more pleased with his team’s effort against the Wizards, despite Edwards and Towns initially struggling with their shooting accuracy.
“I really liked the way the Ant-KAT combo was going tonight,” Finch said. “It felt like it was in rhythm and they even found each other at times.”
Deni Avdija led the Wizards with a season-high 24 points, but it wasn’t enough to prevent their fifth consecutive loss. Marvin Bagley III and Kyle Kuzma also made significant contributions for Washington, with Bagley scoring 17 points and grabbing 15 rebounds and Kuzma adding 17 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves, Washington Wizards Updates
The Wizards kept pace in the first half, but Minnesota’s size proved too much, especially after Wizards’ center Daniel Gafford encountered foul trouble. This issue became evident during a pivotal 16-2 run by the Timberwolves, as noted by Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr., who acknowledged the challenges posed by Minnesota’s aggressive play in the paint.
“They’re a handful. … They were very aggressive in the paint,” Unseld said. “It was the volume of points in the paint. Some of it was transition, some of it was offensive rebounds, some of it was just post-ups.”
Finch sees the team’s recent defeat as a learning opportunity and expects Edwards to be more assertive in future games. Towns and Edwards started slowly and picked up momentum in the second half. Towns, who struggled with his three-pointers initially, found his range in the fourth quarter.
“I don’t know how much better I could have shot them, but just happy to see one fall,” Towns said. “It was a long time coming. I was happy I was able to make those shots when we really, really needed them.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves, Washington Wizards Updates
At the same time, Edwards excelled in the final period, scoring 15 points and efficiently converting free throws to his advantage.
“I played the whole fourth, so I really was tired, trying to get my energy, so if I could get a foul call, take some deep breaths, that was the main thing,” Edwards said. “You don’t need a rhythm to get to the rim.”
The Timberwolves managed this win despite the absence of veteran point guard Mike Conley due to illness.
Looking ahead, the Timberwolves will face the Brooklyn Nets, while the Wizards will host the Utah Jazz, both games taking place on Thursday night.
