Minnesota Timberwolves forward Anthony Edwards (1) fired at San Antonio Spurs forward Josh Richardson (7) in the fourth quarter at Target Center. Compulsory Credit: Bruce Cluckhon – USA Today Sports
Anthony Edwards scored a career-high 49 points to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 127-121 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in a game in Minneapolis with the impact of the Western Conference playoffs.
With the Denver Nuggets (48-33) also winning on Thursday, the Timberwolves (46-35) are seventh in the West, meaning a home game Tuesday play-in tournament against eighth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers (40-40).
Despite the defeat, San Antonio (34-46) is still in the race for ninth place (and a home game in the play-offs) but they have to win their last two games and the New Orleans Pelicans (36-44) lose their last two.
1:36 Timberwolves were 12 ahead in the remaining Edwards free throw, but Minnesota tried to make sure San Antonio fought to make sure Edwards was at the top of his career-high 48 points. The Spurs pulled between 125-121 with 8.4 seconds left but couldn’t get close.
.theantedwards_ A new career-high setting with a 49-point explosion in Minneapolis! 3 # NBA75 pic.twitter.com/DSPDJ8bPmf
– NBA Philippines (BANBA_Philippines) April 8, 2022
Carl-Anthony Towns added 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Timberwolves, Malik Bisley and Jillian Novell added 11 and Jaden McDaniels added 10.
Caldon Johnson led the Spurs with 20 points, having won seven of their previous eight games. Devin Vassel added 18, Jacob Poyle added 15 points and 17 rebounds, and Keita Bates-Diop and Trey Jones scored 14.
Both teams were without key players. Murray missed the game due to an upper respiratory illness at the Spurs, and Lonnie Walker was out with a fourth back pain. Timberwolves’ D’Angelo Russell was scratched late due to a hamstring injury.
Minnesota jumped to the Spurs early in the first quarter, leading 25-18 after Edwards’ 3-pointer at the 3:41 mark. But San Antonio rallied, giving the Timberwolves a 17-5 lead and a 35-30 lead after 12 minutes of play.
The Timberwolves roared in the second, leading the Towns 53-48 after a 3-pointer on a 64-57 advantage at the break.
Edwards had 20 points in the first half, including 15 in the opening quarter, while Towns and Novel added 11 points for the Timberwolves. Vessel was the only San Antonio player in double figures before halftime with 11 points.
Field level media
Related stories
Get the hottest sports news right in your inbox
Read on
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to access Philippine Daily Inquirer and 70+ other headlines, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download by 4am and share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.