Anthony Edwards struggled initially, missing his first five shots, but then surged with 26 points to dismantle the Sacramento Kings. The Minnesota Timberwolves began the first half of a back-to-back road series on Sunday in Sacramento.
Both teams came into the game facing recent heavy losses: on Friday, the Timberwolves crushed the Utah Jazz by 40 points, while the Kings were defeated by the Oklahoma City Thunder by 31 points. This matchup provided a chance for both squads to reset after 48 hours.
Sporting their classic black tree jerseys, Minnesota received a strong effort from Rudy Gobert. He started by blocking a jumper from Domantas Sabonis, who had just returned from a two-game absence, grabbed the loose ball, and finished a coast-to-coast layup.
Early scoring from Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle helped Sacramento stay close despite Edwards' rough start. Minnesota led only 31-25 after the first quarter, as the Kings hit six of eleven three-point attempts.
“Sacramento continued to play a style of basketball that relied heavily on isolation one-on-one possessions.”
The Timberwolves dominated the Kings in a convincing away victory, fueled by Edwards' explosive scoring and Gobert’s defensive mastery despite a shaky start.
Author's summary: Edwards overcame an early shooting slump to lead the Timberwolves’ decisive win, showcasing Minnesota’s strong defense and scoring depth on the road.