Anthony Edwards missed his second consecutive game with right foot soreness, which is still not believed to be a long-term injury. With Mike Conley also out, Bones Hyland made his second consecutive start as the Wolves’ point guard.
It was a lousy start offensively for the Timberwolves as they struggled to either generate easy looks in the paint or knock down their outside shots. They finished the first quarter shooting 9-14 from the field, 1-7 from beyond the arc, and 1-3 from the free throw line,
trailing 27-20.
The Wolves started the second quarter strong, scoring the first 12 points of the frame, but failed to grow the lead any further as the Kings made 11 of their next 14 shots to reclaim a 52-51 lead heading into halftime.
After a Keegan Murray basket to open the second half, the Timberwolves would again put together a strong stretch of play, scoring the next 15-0 points to go up by as many as 13 points. The run was ignited by a pair of assists and a step-back jumper from Bones, who stepped into the starting point guard role well with both Edwards and Conley out.
Later in the third quarter, Rudy Gobert left the game and did not return due to personal reasons. Without Gobert on the floor the rest of the way, the key for the Wolves escaping the game with a win would be their ability to defend.
Minnesota’s defense in the third quarter left a lot to be desired as they were unable to guard without fouling. Minnesota committed 12 fouls in the period, which led to 14 Sacramento free throws, while the Wolves only generated three free attempts, missing all of them. That disparity allowed the Kings to keep the game close as the Wolves led by four heading into the fourth quarter.
Like many of their wins this month, the Wolves dominated the fourth quarter. Bones, like he did all night, was the catalyst scoring seven quick points. Naz Reid was next, putting in a pair of 3-pointers and a couple free throws as the Wolves lead grew to double-digits.
Julius Randle put the finishing touches on a 117-103 Timberwolves victory with an and-1 layup. He finished the game with a team-high 24 points to go along with ten rebounds and three steals. Five Timberwolves players finished with at least 18 points including 21 from Jaden McDaniels, 20 from Naz Reid, and 18 from both Hyland and Donte DiVincenzo.
Up Next
The Timberwolves continue with the second game of their five-game homestand with a matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies. It will be the first of four matchups between the two teams this season. The game begins at 7:00 PM CT and airs on FanDuel Sports Network and NBA TV.
