NBA final score: Timberwolves vs. Wizards: Edwards scores 41 in win

On By Littum

In what was clearly Monday night’s most anticipated Minnesota sporting event, the Minnesota Timberwolves hosted Washington Wizards. While many eyes were on Minnesota Vikings and their playoff match against Los Angeles RamsThe Wolves went up against a league-worst Wizards team.

Washington hasn’t just been the worst team in the league this season, they’ve performed as one of the worst teams in this recent era of the NBA. They are dead last in both offensive and defensive rating, and their -13.6 Net Rating is worse than any team since the 2011-12 season.

The game started slowly offensively as both teams shot the ball poorly in the first quarter. The Wolves finished the quarter shooting 10-24 (41.7 percent) from the field, only to be outscored by the Wizards, who shot 8-25 (32 percent). The two teams combined for just 45 points, with the Wolves leading 25-20 entering the second quarter.

Overall, a sense of malaise seemed to surround the Wolves throughout the first half. There were very few bursts of quality play. The energy was down from the fans in the building and the Wolves themselves.

The Wolves would build a lead as high as nine points in the second quarter before a series of Timberwolves turnovers, bringing their first half total to 13, and a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Jordan Poole cut the Wolves lead to 51-47 on the road into the break.

The break did nothing to wake up the Wolves as their play would drop further in the third quarter. In the period, the Timberwolves defense would allow the Wizards to make 13 of their 23 shots from the field, including six 3-pointers.

Washington would grab as high as a three-point lead before a pair of 3-pointers from Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Mike Conley gave the Wolves an 82-79 lead heading into the game’s final quarter.

Despite the Wolves’ lackluster three quarters of play, they were able to pull away midway through the fourth quarter thanks to a 14-2 run that led the Minnesota Bulls to as many as 14 points, punctuated by a long-range bomb from Anthony Edwards. Edwards would have a handful of highlights to follow.

The Timberwolves would prevail from there, beating the Wizards 120-106. Edwards was spectacular for the Wolves offensively putting up 41 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds. Julius Randle was solid on both ends of the floor, scoring 20 points while grabbing 10 rebounds, including several thunderous dunks. Kyle Kuzma led the Wizards in scoring with 22 points.

Key takeaways

NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves at Washington Wizards

Geoff Burke-Imagn pictures

Anthony Edwards’ master class in the fourth quarter

The first three quarters of the game were quiet for both Edwards and the Timberwolves. Ant had 21 points, but the Wolves were up just three points against a Wizards team they should have been able to dominate.

That all changed in the fourth quarter when Edwards dropped 20 points, giving him 41 for the game. During the seven-minute stretch of scoring for the Wolves superstar, Minnesota extended their lead from just three points all the way up to 16.

Edwards talked after the game about what went into his late game scoring drive that put the game away for the Timberwolves.

“In the first half, I wasn’t reading the game that much. I was already processing that they doubled up before the game even started. And they weren’t in the first half. And then I realized that in the second half, I was able to be more aggressive. I asserted my dominance, and I think I did.”

Ant also spoke about his mindset in the fourth quarter and whether he looks to put the dagger in opposing teams when he feels the game may take over.

“In the fourth quarter, I always tell Mike Conley, find me. In the fourth quarter, make sure you find me. I don’t care where I am. Bring the ball to me in the fourth, for sure.”

Just one game after the Memphis Grizzlies were able to take Edwards out of the game and limit him to just 15 points, it bodes well for Ant and the Wolves that he was able to immediately bounce back from that performance to make the evening’s outstanding score. show.

The caveat to a performance like tonight is that the Wizards are the worst defensive team in the league and implemented the correct defensive strategy. The true test will come against better opponents who have higher quality defenders and structure, but at least for one night Ant carried the Wolves to victory, one that was needed.

The Timberwolves’ turnover woes continue

The Wolves turned the ball over 19 times, 13 of which came in the first half. When the Wolves’ offense didn’t turn it over, they were able to score the ball well, scoring 69 points in the second half, but the flurry of turnovers in the first half allowed the Wizards to stay in the game.

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch echoed the notion that turnovers were the problems when talking about what the problems were with the offense in the first half in his postgame press conference.

“Not turning the ball over. 13 of them at the half. You know, we built a seven-point lead and we turned the ball over in transition and then it sparks like a 12-3 run for them, I think. It’s a important focal point for us right now.”

Edwards led the Wolves in turnovers with seven. Finch touched on what happened on some of Edwards’ turnovers and what he saw from his game on the night as a whole.

“A lot of his turnovers happened in traffic when he’s trying to reverse. I thought when he made a counter move or kind of a step through tonight, it was in the flow with space where he could really rally, made some mistakes as well that way. So I thought it was just his determination to go one way.”

Coming into tonight’s game, the Timberwolves had the fifth-worst turnover percentage, which has been one of the biggest reasons their offense has been ranked 18th in offensive rating to this point, one spot lower than last year’s team .

Many of the turnovers tonight were careless and expensive. They were able to get away with it tonight against the worst team in the league and Edwards went bananas in the fourth quarter. If the Wolves hope to reach the lofty preseason goals they have set for themselves, they will need to be much better at taking care of the ball than they have been to this point this season.

Next

After this one-game road trip in the nation’s capital, the Timberwolves return home to the Target Center for a matchup against Golden State Warriors. It will be the fourth and final matchup between the two teams, with the Warriors winning two of the first three matchups.

The game begins Wednesday, January 15 on 8:30 p.m. CTthat airs nationally on ESPN and locally on FanDuel Sports Network North.

Game highlights