NBA: Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves pull away from Nets

Anthony Edwards scored 29 points and grabbed eight rebounds, and the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled away for a 101-86 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night in Minneapolis.

Karl-Anthony Towns added 28 points and nine rebounds for the Timberwolves, who bounced back on short rest from a loss against the Milwaukee Bucks one night earlier. Mike Conley finished with 14 points.

Cam Thomas scored 18 points to lead Brooklyn, which lost its fourth game in a row. Mikal Bridges finished with 15 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and Nic Claxton contributed 12 points and seven rebounds.

Minnesota outscored Brooklyn 31-20 in the fourth quarter to help seal the victory.

Brooklyn trailed 80-78 with 6:35 to go. The Nets’ chances diminished as the Timberwolves went on a 9-0 run to pull ahead 89-78 with 4:21 remaining.

Jaden McDaniels made a 3-pointer and Edwards made a long two-point jump shot during the run. Towns added two free throws and Kyle Anderson made a layup.

The Timberwolves led 70-66 at the end of the third quarter.

Towns made a pair of 3-pointers in the first two minutes of the second half. Edwards, Conley and Monte Morris also made one 3-pointer apiece during the third quarter.

Brooklyn led 45-42 at the half.

The Nets built a 22-12 lead to open the game. Day’Ron Sharpe made a basket to give Brooklyn a double-digit advantage with 2:42 left in the first quarter.

The Timberwolves closed the first quarter on an 11-0 run to grab a 23-22 lead.

Neither team led by more than five points during a back-and-forth second quarter.

Claxton made a driving layup in the final seconds to give Brooklyn a three-point lead heading into halftime.

Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert did not play on the second night of a back-to-back set because of a left ankle sprain.

Nets forward Ben Simmons exited the game because of left leg soreness and did not return. Simmons finished with four points and eight rebounds in 15 minutes.

–Field Level Media/Reuters