Rudy Gobert delivered a dominant performance with 35 points and 11 rebounds to help the Minnesota Timberwolves secure a 117-91 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night. The win put Minnesota on the verge of clinching a top-six finish in the Western Conference, which would avoid the play-in tournament.
The Timberwolves (48-33) led the game from start to finish, with Julius Randle adding 21 points to their offensive effort.
The Nets (26-55) struggled without several key players, including Nic Claxton, Cam Johnson, and Ziaire Williams, who were all sidelined. Brooklyn’s starting lineup featured a mix of rookies, and Keon Johnson led the team with 20 points. However, the Nets’ defensive struggles allowed Gobert to dominate the paint.
With the absence of Claxton, who typically patrols the paint at 6-foot-10, Gobert took full advantage, going 13-for-17 from the floor.
Minnesota’s offense was clicking on all cylinders, as they shot 54.5% from the field. Despite a rough night from star guard Anthony Edwards, who scored just 9 points on 4-of-11 shooting, the Timberwolves controlled the game.
Edwards did not have his usual impact and struggled from beyond the arc, making only 1 of 7 attempts from three-point range. Adding to the frustration, Edwards was called for his 18th technical foul of the season, leading to an automatic suspension for Minnesota’s next game.
While the Timberwolves’ offense was firing, Brooklyn’s defense continued to falter, finishing the game with only 91 points on 36.7% shooting. The Nets’ bench also struggled, with only one player—Tosan Evbuomwan—scoring more than 7 points.
