NBA Final Score - Timberwolves 144, Kings 117
Edwards Leads Minnesota to a Dominant Win
After missing all five of his initial shots, Anthony Edwards surged with 26 points, overpowering the Sacramento Kings. The Minnesota Timberwolves began a quick road back-to-back series on Sunday in Sacramento, facing a Kings team struggling after a heavy loss.
Teams’ Recent Performances and Context
- On Friday, the Timberwolves crushed the Utah Jazz by 40 points.
- The Kings were defeated by the Oklahoma City Thunder by 31 points.
- Both teams appeared at opposite ends of their form entering the matchup.
Game Highlights and Player Impact
Minnesota wore their retro black tree jerseys, with Rudy Gobert energizing the defense early. Gobert:
- Blocked Domantas Sabonis’s jumper, who had recently returned from a two-game absence.
- Recovered the ball and completed a coast-to-coast layup.
- Went 4-for-4 from the floor with three blocks in the first quarter.
Despite Edwards’ slow start in the game, early scoring from Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle kept Sacramento competitive. The Timberwolves led just 31-25 after the first quarter, partly due to Sacramento's six-of-eleven shooting from beyond the arc.
“Anthony Edwards, in his first full game wearing the tree jerseys, missed all five of his field goal attempts to open the game.”
Sacramento continued to rely on isolation one-on-one possessions, which struggled against Minnesota’s defensive pressure.
Author’s Summary
Edwards overcame an early shooting slump to ignite the Timberwolves’ commanding victory by energizing a strong team effort on both ends.