Edwards scores 29, Towns adds 28 as Wolves pull away for 101-86 win over Nets
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Anthony Edwards scored 11 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, punctuated by a dunk in the final minute, as the Minnesota Timberwolves took sole possession of first place in the Western Conference with a 101-86 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 28 points for Minnesota, which bounced back from a loss Friday to Milwaukee. The Timberwolves are now 5-2 this season on the second night of back-to-backs.
“We needed a win desperately,” said Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch. “Still not playing really sharp basketball, particularly on the offensive end. But defensively, we were really strong.”
Cam Thomas led Brooklyn with 18 points. Nets leading scorer Mikal Bridges, who entered Saturday averaging 21.7 points per game, added 15 points.
The win puts the Timberwolves a half-game ahead of idle Oklahoma City in the conference.
The Nets fell to 0-2 under interim head coach Kevin Ollie. Ollie took over for Jacques Vaughn, who was fired during the All-Star break.
“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 struggled from the floor. Minnesota shot 43% overall and 31.6% from deep. Brooklyn shot 34% and was just 6 of 35 from 3-point range. It was the lowest field-goal percentage by a Wolves opponent this season.
Things got chippy with 22.5 seconds remaining and the game already out of hand. Dennis Schroder made contact with Mike Conley after Conley hit a 3-pointer, causing Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels to shove Schroder. The play resulted in four offsetting technical fouls, two for each team.
“I understand where Dennis is going,” Ollie said of the play. “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.”
The Timberwolves were without center Rudy Gobert, who missed Saturday’s game with a sprained left ankle. Gobert suffered the injury in the third quarter of the loss to Milwaukee. Saturday was just the second game he’s missed this season.
Without Gobert, Minnesota struggled on the boards. Brooklyn outrebounded the Wolves 56-51.
The Timberwolves trailed at halftime and led by just two after three quarters before outscoring the Nets 31-20 in the fourth.
“It was ugly, sloppy. I think by both teams, actually,” said Timberwolves center Naz Reid. “But we (were) able to buckle down in the last quarter and handle business.”
Brooklyn point guard Ben Simmons left the game in the third quarter with a leg injury. The 27-year-old Simmons has played in just 14 games this year. Ollie said Simmons would get more testing done and he will travel with the team.
Reid landed awkwardly in the second quarter, colliding with the basket and hitting his leg midway through the second quarter. He walked to the locker room under his own power and eventually returned to the game in the middle of the third quarter.
UP NEXT
Nets: At Memphis on Monday night.
Timberwolves: Host San Antonio on Tuesday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Nic Claxton vs. Karl-Anthony Towns (Jaden McDaniels gains possession) | ||
| 11:47 | | +2 | Mike Conley makes two point reverse layup (Kyle Anderson assists) | 0-2 |
| 11:29 |  | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point pullup jump shot | 2-2 |
| 11:15 | | Jaden McDaniels turnover (bad pass) (Ben Simmons steals) | ||
| 11:13 | | Ben Simmons misses two point running layup | ||
| 11:12 | | Ben Simmons offensive rebound | ||
| 11:10 | | +2 | Ben Simmons makes two point putback layup | 4-2 |
| 10:58 | | Jaden McDaniels turnover (lost ball) (Ben Simmons steals) | ||
| 10:53 | | Dorian Finney-Smith misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 10:48 | | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | ||
| 10:35 | | +2 | Kyle Anderson makes two point floating jump shot (Karl-Anthony Towns assists) | 4-4 |
| 10:24 | | Ben Simmons misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 10:24 | | Timberwolves defensive rebound | ||
| 10:16 | | Kyle Anderson misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 10:14 | | Ben Simmons defensive rebound | ||
| 10:02 | | Cam Thomas misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 10:00 | | Nets offensive rebound | ||
| 10:00 | | Jaden McDaniels personal foul (Loose ball) (Nic Claxton draws the foul) | ||
| 9:47 | | +2 | Dorian Finney-Smith makes two point cutting layup (Mikal Bridges assists) | 6-4 |
| 9:23 | | Anthony Edwards misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 9:22 | | Timberwolves offensive rebound | ||
| 9:22 | | Timberwolves turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 9:09 | | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point pullup jump shot (Nic Claxton assists) | 8-4 |
| 8:53 | | Anthony Edwards misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:49 | | Cam Thomas defensive rebound | ||
| 8:40 | | Mikal Bridges misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:37 | | Mike Conley defensive rebound | ||
| 8:25 | | Cam Thomas personal foul (Jaden McDaniels draws the foul) | ||
| 8:17 | | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point driving layup (Mike Conley assists) | 8-6 |
| 8:03 | | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 10-6 |
| 7:49 | | Nic Claxton blocks Karl-Anthony Towns's two point driving layup | ||
| 7:48 | | Mikal Bridges defensive rebound | ||
| 7:43 | | Cam Thomas misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 7:40 | | Mike Conley defensive rebound | ||
| 7:27 | | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point driving reverse layup | 10-8 |
| 7:14 | | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point pullup jump shot (Mikal Bridges assists) | 12-8 |
| 6:52 | | Kyle Anderson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:49 | | Dorian Finney-Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 6:42 | | Mikal Bridges misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:40 | | Kyle Anderson defensive rebound | ||
| 6:36 | | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point running layup (Kyle Anderson assists) | 12-10 |
| 6:16 | | Nic Claxton misses two point driving layup | ||
| 6:13 | | Jaden McDaniels defensive rebound | ||
| 6:10 | | Mike Conley misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:08 | | Ben Simmons defensive rebound | ||
| 5:59 | | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point driving floating jump shot | 14-10 |
| 5:41 | | +2 | Kyle Anderson makes two point driving bank hook shot | 14-12 |
| 5:38 | | Nets 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:21 | | Mikal Bridges misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:21 | | Timberwolves defensive rebound | ||
| 5:21 | | Nic Claxton personal foul (Loose ball) (Nickeil Alexander-Walker draws the foul) | ||
| 5:04 | | Anthony Edwards misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 5:02 | | Day'Ron Sharpe defensive rebound | ||
| 4:48 | | +3 | Cameron Johnson makes three point jump shot (Lonnie Walker IV assists) | 17-12 |
| 4:29 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:26 | | Cam Thomas defensive rebound | ||
| 4:13 | | Cameron Johnson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:11 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker defensive rebound | ||
| 4:01 | | Anthony Edwards misses two point driving layup | ||
| 4:00 | | Cam Thomas defensive rebound | ||
| 3:57 | | Cam Thomas misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:54 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker defensive rebound | ||
| 3:41 | | Kyle Anderson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:38 | | Day'Ron Sharpe defensive rebound | ||
| 3:20 | | +3 | Dennis Schroder makes three point jump shot (Lonnie Walker IV assists) | 20-12 |
| 3:17 | | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | ||
| 3:01 | | Anthony Edwards misses two point driving layup | ||
| 2:59 | | Cameron Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 2:46 | | Dennis Schroder misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:43 | | Day'Ron Sharpe offensive rebound | ||
| 2:42 | | +2 | Day'Ron Sharpe makes two point putback layup | 22-12 |
| 2:26 | | Day'Ron Sharpe shooting foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | ||
| 2:26 | | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-13 |
| 2:26 | | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-14 |
| 2:16 | | Lonnie Walker IV misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:15 | | Naz Reid defensive rebound | ||
| 2:09 | | +3 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes three point running jump shot (Naz Reid assists) | 22-17 |
| 1:54 | | Dennis Smith Jr. misses two point driving layup | ||
| 1:52 | | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | ||
| 1:45 | | Karl-Anthony Towns offensive foul (Dennis Smith Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 1:45 | | Karl-Anthony Towns turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 1:25 | | Monte Morris blocks Dennis Schroder's two point driving layup | ||
| 1:24 | | Timberwolves defensive rebound | ||
| 1:07 | | +2 | Monte Morris makes two point driving finger roll layup | 22-19 |
| 0:52 | | Naz Reid blocks Dennis Smith Jr.'s two point driving layup | ||
| 0:50 | | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | ||
| 0:48 | | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point driving layup (Karl-Anthony Towns assists) | 22-21 |
| 0:34 | | Dennis Schroder misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:30 | | Day'Ron Sharpe offensive rebound | ||
| 0:30 | | Naz Reid blocks Day'Ron Sharpe's two point putback layup | ||
| 0:26 | | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | ||
| 0:23 | | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point running reverse layup | 22-23 |
| 0:04 | | Cameron Johnson misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:01 | | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:50 | | Cameron Johnson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:46 | | Dorian Finney-Smith offensive rebound | ||
| 11:45 | | Lonnie Walker IV turnover (traveling) | ||
| 11:35 | | Naz Reid turnover (lost ball) (Dennis Smith Jr. steals) | ||
| 11:33 | | Dennis Smith Jr. misses two point running layup | ||
| 11:31 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker defensive rebound | ||
| 11:23 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:20 | | Dennis Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 11:10 | | Ben Simmons misses two point layup | ||
| 11:07 | | Ben Simmons offensive rebound | ||
| 11:07 | | Ben Simmons misses two point tip layup | ||
| 11:06 | | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | ||
| 11:02 | | +3 | Mike Conley makes three point running jump shot (Monte Morris assists) | 22-26 |
| 10:49 | | Karl-Anthony Towns shooting foul (Dorian Finney-Smith draws the foul) | ||
| 10:49 | | +1 | Dorian Finney-Smith makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-26 |
| 10:49 | | +1 | Dorian Finney-Smith makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-26 |
| 10:38 | | Naz Reid misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:34 | | Ben Simmons defensive rebound | ||
| 10:29 | | Lonnie Walker IV misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 10:28 | | Kyle Anderson defensive rebound | ||
| 10:09 | | +3 | Mike Conley makes three point jump shot (Monte Morris assists) | 24-29 |
| 9:55 | | +3 | Lonnie Walker IV makes three point jump shot (Dennis Smith Jr. assists) | 27-29 |
| 9:41 | | Dorian Finney-Smith shooting foul (Naz Reid draws the foul) | ||
| 9:41 | | Naz Reid misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 9:41 | | Timberwolves offensive rebound | ||
| 9:41 | | Naz Reid misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 9:39 | | Mikal Bridges defensive rebound | ||
| 9:23 | | Dorian Finney-Smith turnover (bad pass) (Monte Morris steals) | ||
| 9:20 | | +2 | Naz Reid makes two point running dunk (Monte Morris assists) | 27-31 |
| 9:11 | | Lonnie Walker IV misses two point driving layup | ||
| 9:10 | | Kyle Anderson defensive rebound | ||
| 8:52 | | Kyle Anderson misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 8:49 | | Dorian Finney-Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 8:36 | | Dorian Finney-Smith misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:34 | | Mike Conley defensive rebound | ||
| 8:16 | | Naz Reid turnover (lost ball) (Lonnie Walker IV steals) | ||
| 8:12 | | Mikal Bridges misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:10 | | Kyle Anderson defensive rebound | ||
| 7:50 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:48 | | Nets defensive rebound | ||
| 7:30 | | Dorian Finney-Smith misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 7:27 | | Dorian Finney-Smith offensive rebound | ||
| 7:27 | | +2 | Dorian Finney-Smith makes two point tip layup | 29-31 |
| 7:14 | | Jaden McDaniels turnover (lost ball) (Ben Simmons steals) | ||
| 7:10 | | Nic Claxton turnover (bad pass) (Mike Conley steals) | ||
| 7:01 | | Monte Morris misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:59 | | Ben Simmons defensive rebound | ||
| 6:56 | | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point running dunk (Ben Simmons assists) | 31-31 |
| 6:56 | | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:42 | | Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:39 | | Cam Thomas defensive rebound | ||
| 6:29 | | Mikal Bridges misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:27 | | Kyle Anderson defensive rebound | ||
| 6:21 | | +2 | Kyle Anderson makes two point running layup | 31-33 |
| 6:01 | | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point driving layup (Nic Claxton assists) | 33-33 |
| 5:42 | | Karl-Anthony Towns misses two point driving layup | ||
| 5:40 | | Dorian Finney-Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 5:33 | |