Anthony Edwards propelled the Minnesota Timberwolves to victory with a significant fourth-quarter performance, scoring 11 of his total 29 points and sealing the deal with a notable dunk in the last minute, as the Timberwolves overtook the Brooklyn Nets with a score of 101-86 during Saturday’s NBA action, clinching the top spot in the Western Conference.
Karl-Anthony Towns contributed an impressive 28 points to the win, helping the team recover from a previous loss to Milwaukee. This victory marked the Timberwolves’ fifth win in seven instances when playing back-to-back games this season.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch expressed the team’s urgent need for a win, acknowledging the ongoing challenges in offensive play but highlighting the team’s strong defensive performance.
“We needed a win desperately,” Finch said. “Still not playing really sharp basketball, particularly on the offensive end. But defensively, we were really strong.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets Updates
Cam Thomas was the top scorer for Brooklyn with 18 points, while the Nets’ leading season scorer, Mikal Bridges, added 15 points to the tally.
This win nudged the Timberwolves a half-game ahead of Oklahoma City, who did not play that day. Meanwhile, the Nets dropped to an 0-2 record under interim head coach Kevin Ollie, who stepped in for Jacques Vaughn after his mid-season dismissal. Ollie emphasized the team’s resilience and the need for improved shooting accuracy.
“I thought we did a great job coming together as a team and facing adversity,” Ollie said. “But we’ve got to make shots.”
Both teams experienced shooting difficulties, with Minnesota hitting 43% of their shots and 31.6% from three-point range, while Brooklyn managed only a 34% shooting rate, including a 6 of 35 performance from beyond the arc, marking the lowest field-goal percentage against the Wolves this season.
A tense moment occurred with 22.5 seconds left on the clock when Dennis Schroder‘s contact with Mike Conley, following a 3-pointer, led to a scuffle involving Jaden McDaniels of the Timberwolves, resulting in offsetting technical fouls for both teams.
“I understand where Dennis is going,” Ollie said “It’s a late game. (Conley’s) a veteran, so I know if he had to do it over again, he wouldn’t take the shot.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets Updates
The Timberwolves were without Rudy Gobert, sidelined with a sprained left ankle from the previous game against Milwaukee, impacting their rebounding performance with Brooklyn outrebounding them 56-51.
Despite trailing at halftime and holding only a two-point lead after three quarters, the Timberwolves dominated the final quarter, outscoring the Nets 31-20.
Ben Simmons exited the game in the third quarter due to a leg injury, with coach Ollie indicating that Simmons would undergo further testing and remain with the team.
Naz Reid had a moment of concern after colliding with the basket and injuring his leg. Still, he returned to play in the third quarter of the Timberwolves. He commented on the game’s overall quality, acknowledging the messy play but emphasizing their ability to secure the win in the fourth quarter.
“It was ugly, sloppy. I think by both teams, actually,” Reid said. “But we (were) able to buckle down in the last quarter and handle business.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets Updates
Looking ahead, the Nets are set to face the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night, while the Timberwolves will host the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night.
