Anthony Edwards exploded for 37 points, leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to a commanding 127-102 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.
Edwards shot 9-of-15 from beyond the arc, just one shy of his career-high for 3-pointers made, as Minnesota (6-3) extended its winning streak to three games.
Edwards also contributed six rebounds and five assists in a dominant performance. His scoring output helped the Timberwolves overcome a sluggish start from the Blazers (3-7), who struggled defensively throughout the contest.
Julius Randle added 22 points, while Rudy Gobert grabbed 15 rebounds and blocked three shots in the win.
The Trail Blazers were led by Scoot Henderson, who tallied 16 points, followed by Anfernee Simons with 14 and Robert Williams III with 13. Despite a late push in the second half, Portland’s defense couldn’t slow down the Timberwolves, who shot 44.2% from the field and hit a season-high 22 three-pointers.
Portland’s performance was hindered by the challenge of playing its eighth game in 13 days. After a loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, the Trail Blazers appeared fatigued, allowing Minnesota to build an early lead. Portland fell behind by as much as 27 points in the second quarter, with the team unable to recover.
However, the Blazers did show signs of improvement with the return of Robert Williams III, who made his season debut, and Shaedon Sharpe, who played in his second game of the year. Despite this, Portland’s defense faltered, particularly against Edwards’ sharpshooting.
Minnesota continues to excel from beyond the arc, ranked third in the NBA in 3-point shooting. In this game, they made 22 out of 50 attempts, a sharp contrast to the Blazers’ struggles from long range. Portland managed just six 3-pointers on 25 attempts, unable to match the Timberwolves’ efficiency.
