Ant-man, Wolves end Celtics’ unbeaten start; ‘Wemby’ routed
Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards celebrates his team’s huge upset. —USA TODAY SPORTS
MINNEAPOLIS—Taking over in extension, Anthony Edwards scored eight of his 38 as the Timberwolves put an end to Boston’s unbeaten National Basketball Association (NBA) start on Monday with a 114-109 win.
“I let my team down in the last quarter by missing two shots; I said to myself I’ve got to make up for it by taking over in overtime,” Edwards said even as James Harden had a losing debut for the LA Clippers and No. 1 overall Draft pick Victor Wembanyama struggled big time in a 152-111 drubbing San Antonio took from Indiana.
Jaden McDaniels gave Edwards offensive support with 20 points, including a jump shot with 16 seconds remaining that effectively sealed victory for Minnesota.
“We’re the dynamic duo,” Edwards quipped. “I trust him. I give him the ball whenever he wants; he’s the reason we won tonight.”
Elsewhere, Harden finished with 17 points and six assists but could not prevent his new team falling to a 111-97 road defeat to the New York Knicks.
The 34-year-old former NBA Most Valuable Player was one of five Clippers players in double figures, but Tyronn Lue’s star-studded lineup was outgunned by the Knicks’ RJ Barrett and Julius Randle, who combined for 53 points.
Lue, though, liked what he saw from Harden despite his team’s defeat.
“I thought James was really good,” Lue said. “It’s going to take him a little time to get in game shape, we understand that. But his presence on the floor was definitely felt.”
New York ran away with the game in a one-sided fourth quarter, outscoring the Clippers, 35-21, to improve to 3-4 in the Eastern Conference.
The Pacers, meanwhile, gave Wembanyama a reality check in the runaway win. The 7-foot-4 phenom went stone cold in Indianapolis, shooting just 3-of-12 from the field to finish 13 points. —AFP
