MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 3 (BNA): Anthony Edwards scored 29 points, including 15 in the third quarter to help Minnesota hold on to a Denver lead and the Timberwolves hold on for a 124-111 win over the Nuggets.
Jaden McDaniels scored 21 points and Kyle Anderson added 19 for Minnesota, which snapped a six-game losing streak and won its fourth in a row against Denver, the Associated Press reports.
With Jamaal Murray and Nikola Jokic leading the way, the Nuggets pushed them early in the third period. But Edwards answered the call, scoring 10 of the last 12 points of the quarter to put the Timberwolves back in front for good.
“They tell me,” Edwards said of his teammates who were pressing him to take over. “Especially this group of men, they are so frank with me.” Hey, it’s time to take charge. Someone said to me going into the third quarter after the first time, “Okay, take over this game.”
Jokic finished with 24 points, seven rebounds and nine assists, and Murray added 14 points after a scoreless first half. Bones Highland added 18 points off the bench, but Denver fell behind due to his slow start in game two of a winning streak after Sunday’s home win against Boston.
The Nuggets had won 10 of their previous 12 games.
“What I saw was just a team that was more urgent, that was more desperate and that wanted it more,” Malone said of Minnesota. “Usually this team would win the game. Disappointing. Great win last night, but who cares. I brought it back tonight.”
Playing without D’Angelo Russell (illness) and Naz Reid (lower back spasms) was just the latest blow to the Timberwolves, who were without Karl-Anthony Towns (right calf strain), Taurean Prince (right shoulder dislocation) and Jordan McLaughlin (strain). left leg) for prolonged absences.
Holding the lead was also an issue, such as on Saturday when Minnesota let an 18-point advantage slip in a disappointing home loss to last-place Detroit.
Wolverhampton manager Chris Finch questioned whether there was a sense of entitlement with his struggling, star-studded side and considered potential changes. Finch didn’t have many options for changes due to him being short-handed, but he rarely used Luka Garza and Nathan Knight provided a spark off the bench and helped Jokic’s defense.
Meanwhile, energy and focus weren’t an issue against the first-place Nuggets.
“Very proud of our guys after the weekend,” said Finch. “Obviously we desperately need to win here, no matter who or whom we play. It was a total win for the team. Everyone involved contributed to the game, executing the game plan to a high level. We played solid, we played together. It was really fun to watch.” “.
Out of the ordinary
Denver, who started the day with the second-best shooting percentage in the league and leads from the 3-point zone, simply struggled to get a shot in the first half.
The Nuggets started the game 3-of-10 from the field, shooting 38.9% in the first quarter, including a 1-of-8 mark of 3. He finished the first half with a 40.9% shot.
“I think tonight it just boils down to the score for me and I think it’s my brain,” Denver coach Michael Malone said. “If you’re mentally tough, you don’t give in to the ‘I’m tired.’ (starring) team types outweigh all of the BS, all the noise, all the excuses. You have to tell your body you’re not tired.”
ANT point
Without Russell and McLaughlin, the team’s primary point guards, the offense ran through Edwards. He had five assists and 10 rebounds.
“Vinci did an amazing job,” Edwards said. “He’d call out plays. Other times, he’d tell me when to go. He’d be like, ‘Okay, go, go, go,’ like when I push the ball. So, it kind of helped me tonight.”
Tip-ins
Nuggets: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope left the game for a short period due to a sprained right wrist. He later returns to the game. Aaron Gordon missed his first 10 shots of the game, but finished with 12 points and 16 rebounds, including a career-high 12 offensive boards.
Timberwolves: Jaylen Nowell scored 17 points during the start for Russell. Minnesota shot 60% in the fourth quarter, including 4-of-9 from 3 to stay ahead.
Next
Nuggets: Go home against the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday.
Timberwolves: Hosts Portland on Wednesday.