NBA: Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves finish strong to top Nuggets
FILE–Anthony Edwards #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves. David Berding/Getty Images/AFP
Anthony Edwards had 29 points and 10 rebounds, Jaden McDaniels scored 21 points, and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets 124-111 in Minneapolis on Monday night.
Kyle Anderson had 19 points and eight assists and Jaylen Nowell scored 17 for the Timberwolves, who snapped a six-game losing streak.
Article continues after this advertisementNikola Jokic had 24 points and nine assists, Michael Porter Jr. and Bones Hyland scored 18 points each, Jamal Murray added 14 points, Aaron Gordon had 12 points and 16 rebounds and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope finished with 10 for the Nuggets.
Minnesota led by 67-60 less than two minutes into the second half but the Nuggets rallied. Gordon and Porter dunked, Caldwell-Pope converted a three-point play and Porter hit a 3-pointer to put Denver ahead 70-69.
The Nuggets increased their advantage to 83-80 later in the third, but Edwards scored 10 points in the final 3:25 of the third quarter to give Minnesota a 90-85 lead heading into the fourth.
Article continues after this advertisementcouldn’t ask for a better start to 2023.
Ant – 29 PTS / 10 REB / 5 AST / 1 STL
Jaden – 21 PTS / 4 REB / 4 AST / 1 BLK / 1 STL
Kyle – 19 PTS / 4 REB / 8 AST / 3 STL
Jaylen – 17 PTS / 4 REB / 2 AST / 1 STL pic.twitter.com/jSlMHSb24R— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) January 3, 2023
Murray opened the final period with an 18-foot jumper, but the Timberwolves responded. Luka Garza converted a three-point play, made a layup and later two free throws, and Nowell hit a 3-pointer after a Denver miss to give Minnesota a 105-95 lead with 7:30 left.
The Nuggets answered. Jokic dunked, made a 3-pointer and fed Porter on a 3-pointer in a quick 8-0 run. McDaniels broke the streak with a layup, Gordon missed two free throws and Edward hit a fadeaway to make it a six-point game.
Gordon scored off his own miss, but Anderson hit a corner 3-pointer to make it 112-105 with 4:10 remaining.
Denver missed on its next three possessions while Edwards hit a layup and McDaniels split a pair of free throws with 2:25 left to give the Timberwolves a 10-point lead.
Rudy Gobert was called for goaltending on Jokic’s hook shot, but Austin Rivers hit a 3-pointer from the corner to put Minnesota up by 11 with 1:44 left, and the Timberwolves closed it out.
The Timberwolves used a 15-2 run in the second quarter to take a 59-53 halftime lead.
