Edwards has 41 and the Timberwolves win the first of 2 against the Blazers 121-109
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Anthony Edwards didn't think he could play against the Trail Blazers. Then he scored 41 points.
Edwards shook off the right knee soreness that he felt going into Tuesday night's game at Portland and helped lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 121-109 victory.
“At the last second I was like, 'I'm going to try it out,' because I wasn't going to go tonight,” Edwards said. “But like I said, at the last second I was 'I'm gonna try it out, see how I feel,' and it felt good.”
Rudy Gobert added 16 points and 15 rebounds for his sixth straight double-double. Karl-Anthony Towns, who had foul trouble early, finished with 13 points for the Western Conference-leading Timberwolves.
Deandre Ayton had 22 points and 16 rebounds for the Blazers, who lost their fifth straight. Portland hosts Minnesota again on Thursday night.
The Timberwolves built a 14-point first-half lead, but the Blazers whittled away at it, coming within 62-60 in the third quarter before Edwards' 3-pointer capped a 10-2 run that stretched Minnesota's lead to 72-62.
Jerami Grant's 3-pointer tied it at 73 but Minnesota led 84-83 going into the final period. Portland briefly took a narrow lead early in the fourth on free throws when Scoot Henderson was fouled on a 3-point attempt, but Minnesota reestablished control.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker's 3-pointer, his fourth of the quarter, stretched the Timberwolves' lead to 102-90 with 6:42 to go. Minnesota went on to lead by as many as 20 points. Alexander-Walker finished with 18 points off the bench.
“I thought we played well for the most part. First quarter, just had too many turnovers," Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. "I thought that hurt us early. But for the most part we did what we wanted to try to do in the game and made it a game most of the way, and then it got away from us in the fourth quarter, obviously."
The Timberwolves were playing the second of a back-to-back after a 121-100 victory at the Clippers on Monday night.
The Blazers, who are rebuilding following the offseason departure of Damian Lillard, have struggled with minor injuries. Starting guard Anfernee Simons returned against the Timberwolves after missing a game with a left ankle sprain.
Henderson also was available after missing two games with a left foot injury. Duop Reath was back after a two-game absence with right knee tendinitis. But Malcolm Brogdon remained sidelined by right elbow tendinitis.
Edwards had 18 points in the first quarter alone as Minnesota built a 37-25 lead. But Towns picked up his third foul with 1:43 left in the quarter and went to the bench.
Simons' 3-pointer closed the gap to 46-40 midway through the second quarter but Minnesota held a 59-51 lead at the half.
It was Edwards’ 20th game this season with at least 30 points. It was his second game with 40 or more. His season high is 44.
“Once he gets hot, there’ s no getting him off the floor, really,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said.
UP NEXT
The Trail Blazers host the Timberwolves again on Thursday night, wrapping up a five-game Minnesota road trip.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Rudy Gobert vs. Deandre Ayton (Anfernee Simons gains possession) | ||
| 11:45 | | +2 | Deandre Ayton makes two point reverse layup (Toumani Camara assists) | 0-2 |
| 11:26 | | Matisse Thybulle personal foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul) | ||
| 11:17 |  | Anthony Edwards turnover (lost ball) (Jerami Grant steals) | ||
| 11:13 | | +2 | Anfernee Simons makes two point running layup | 0-4 |
| 11:03 | | Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:01 | | Trail Blazers defensive rebound | ||
| 10:51 | | +3 | Toumani Camara makes three point pullup jump shot (Anfernee Simons assists) | 0-7 |
| 10:26 | | Karl-Anthony Towns turnover (bad pass) (Matisse Thybulle steals) | ||
| 10:18 | | Mike Conley blocks Jerami Grant's two point driving layup | ||
| 10:16 | | Jerami Grant offensive rebound | ||
| 10:14 | | Matisse Thybulle misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:11 | | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | ||
| 10:00 | | Mike Conley misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:57 | | Mike Conley offensive rebound | ||
| 9:55 | | +3 | Anthony Edwards makes three point jump shot (Mike Conley assists) | 3-7 |
| 9:34 | | Jerami Grant turnover (lost ball) (Anthony Edwards steals) | ||
| 9:26 | | Anthony Edwards misses two point pullup bank jump shot | ||
| 9:23 | | Deandre Ayton defensive rebound | ||
| 9:11 | | Matisse Thybulle turnover (lost ball) (Mike Conley steals) | ||
| 9:06 | | +2 | Mike Conley makes two point running layup | 5-7 |
| 8:54 | | Anfernee Simons turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 8:44 | | Jerami Grant shooting foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | ||
| 8:44 | | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 6-7 |
| 8:44 | | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 7-7 |
| 8:34 | | Jerami Grant turnover (out of bounds step) | ||
| 8:21 | | Karl-Anthony Towns misses two point cutting layup | ||
| 8:19 | | Deandre Ayton defensive rebound | ||
| 8:09 | | +2 | Deandre Ayton makes two point jump shot (Toumani Camara assists) | 7-9 |
| 7:51 | | Matisse Thybulle personal foul (Mike Conley draws the foul) | ||
| 7:47 | | Toumani Camara shooting foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul) | ||
| 7:47 | | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 8-9 |
| 7:47 | | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 9-9 |
| 7:33 | | +2 | Anfernee Simons makes two point driving layup | 9-11 |
| 7:21 | | +2 | Rudy Gobert makes two point driving layup (Mike Conley assists) | 11-11 |
| 7:09 | | Jerami Grant misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:07 | | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | ||
| 6:58 | | Karl-Anthony Towns offensive foul (Charge) (Toumani Camara draws the foul) | ||
| 6:58 | | Karl-Anthony Towns turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 6:58 | | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:44 | | +2 | Scoot Henderson makes two point pullup jump shot | 11-13 |
| 6:28 | | Mike Conley turnover (bad pass) (Anfernee Simons steals) | ||
| 6:22 | | Anfernee Simons misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 6:20 | | Mike Conley defensive rebound | ||
| 6:02 | | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point pullup jump shot | 13-13 |
| 5:54 | | Jerami Grant misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:52 | | Mike Conley defensive rebound | ||
| 5:36 | | Naz Reid misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:32 | | Deandre Ayton defensive rebound | ||
| 5:29 | | Anthony Edwards blocks Scoot Henderson's two point running layup | ||
| 5:27 | | Mike Conley defensive rebound | ||
| 5:18 | | +3 | Mike Conley makes three point pullup jump shot (Rudy Gobert assists) | 16-13 |
| 5:01 | | Naz Reid blocks Toumani Camara's two point driving hook shot | ||
| 4:59 | | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | ||
| 4:46 | | Naz Reid misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:43 | | Anfernee Simons defensive rebound | ||
| 4:35 | | +2 | Deandre Ayton makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot (Jerami Grant assists) | 16-15 |
| 4:32 | | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:18 | | +2 | Naz Reid makes two point driving layup (Kyle Anderson assists) | 18-15 |
| 4:05 | | +2 | Jabari Walker makes two point layup (Scoot Henderson assists) | 18-17 |
| 3:54 | | +2 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes two point driving layup | 20-17 |
| 3:54 | | Anfernee Simons shooting foul (Nickeil Alexander-Walker draws the foul) | ||
| 3:54 | | +1 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 21-17 |
| 3:33 | | Anfernee Simons misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:29 | | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | ||
| 3:23 | | +3 | Anthony Edwards makes three point running pullup jump shot | 24-17 |
| 2:59 | | Jerami Grant misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 2:58 | | Duop Reath offensive rebound | ||
| 2:58 | | Karl-Anthony Towns shooting foul (Duop Reath draws the foul) | ||
| 2:58 | | Duop Reath misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 2:58 | | Trail Blazers offensive rebound | ||
| 2:58 | | +1 | Duop Reath makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-18 |
| 2:50 | | Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:46 | | Dalano Banton defensive rebound | ||
| 2:40 | | Dalano Banton misses two point running layup | ||
| 2:38 | | Kyle Anderson defensive rebound | ||
| 2:35 | | +3 | Anthony Edwards makes three point running jump shot (Kyle Anderson assists) | 27-18 |
| 2:13 | | +2 | Scoot Henderson makes two point driving layup | 27-20 |
| 2:05 | | Duop Reath shooting foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | ||
| 2:05 | | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-20 |
| 2:05 | | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-20 |
| 1:52 | | +3 | Scoot Henderson makes three point jump shot (Jerami Grant assists) | 29-23 |
| 1:43 | | Karl-Anthony Towns offensive foul (Charge) (Duop Reath draws the foul) | ||
| 1:43 | | Karl-Anthony Towns turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 1:24 | | Dalano Banton turnover (lost ball) (Naz Reid steals) | ||
| 1:10 | | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point pullup jump shot | 31-23 |
| 0:59 | | Jerami Grant offensive foul (Charge) (Nickeil Alexander-Walker draws the foul) | ||
| 0:59 | | Jerami Grant turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 0:48 | | +3 | Naz Reid makes three point jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 34-23 |
| 0:39 | | Dalano Banton turnover (bad pass) (Monte Morris steals) | ||
| 0:30 | | Anthony Edwards misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:27 | | Dalano Banton defensive rebound | ||
| 0:08 | | +2 | Jerami Grant makes two point driving floating jump shot (Dalano Banton assists) | 34-25 |
| 0:01 | | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 36-25 |
| 0:01 | | Jabari Walker shooting foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul) | ||
| 0:01 | | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 37-25 |
| 0:00 | | Scoot Henderson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Trail Blazers offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:41 | | +2 | Rudy Gobert makes two point alley-oop dunk (Kyle Anderson assists) | 39-25 |
| 11:19 | | +2 | Scoot Henderson makes two point driving finger roll layup (Jerami Grant assists) | 39-27 |
| 10:54 | | Monte Morris misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 10:51 | | Jabari Walker defensive rebound | ||
| 10:42 | | Scoot Henderson misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 10:38 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker defensive rebound | ||
| 10:30 | | Rudy Gobert misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 10:29 | | Deandre Ayton defensive rebound | ||
| 10:20 | | +3 | Dalano Banton makes three point jump shot (Deandre Ayton assists) | 39-30 |
| 10:01 | | Rudy Gobert misses two point stepback bank jump shot | ||
| 9:59 | | Jabari Walker defensive rebound | ||
| 9:49 | | Scoot Henderson turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 9:36 | | Jabari Walker personal foul (Rudy Gobert draws the foul) | ||
| 9:24 | | +3 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes three point jump shot (Monte Morris assists) | 42-30 |
| 9:05 | | Jerami Grant misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:03 | | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | ||
| 8:49 | | Jaden McDaniels misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:48 | | Dalano Banton defensive rebound | ||
| 8:42 | | +2 | Dalano Banton makes two point running layup | 42-32 |
| 8:42 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker shooting foul (Dalano Banton draws the foul) | ||
| 8:42 | | +1 | Dalano Banton makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 42-33 |
| 8:31 | | Monte Morris misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 8:28 | | Jabari Walker defensive rebound | ||
| 8:21 | | Monte Morris shooting foul (Dalano Banton draws the foul) | ||
| 8:21 | | Dalano Banton misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 8:21 | | Trail Blazers offensive rebound | ||
| 8:21 | | +1 | Dalano Banton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 42-34 |
| 8:10 | | Duop Reath shooting foul (Kyle Anderson draws the foul) | ||
| 8:10 | | +1 | Kyle Anderson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 43-34 |
| 8:10 | | +1 | Kyle Anderson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 44-34 |
| 7:56 | | Anfernee Simons misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:55 | | Timberwolves defensive rebound | ||
| 7:34 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker turnover (bad pass) (Dalano Banton steals) | ||
| 7:30 | | Anfernee Simons turnover (traveling) | ||
| 7:14 | | Mike Conley misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:13 | | Jabari Walker defensive rebound | ||
| 7:06 | | Naz Reid shooting foul (Dalano Banton draws the foul) | ||
| 7:06 | | Dalano Banton misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 7:06 | | Trail Blazers offensive rebound | ||
| 7:06 | | +1 | Dalano Banton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 44-35 |
| 6:49 | | Duop Reath blocks Naz Reid's two point driving layup | ||
| 6:47 | | Anfernee Simons defensive rebound | ||
| 6:43 | | Dalano Banton misses two point running layup | ||
| 6:42 | | Jabari Walker offensive rebound | ||
| 6:40 | | Jabari Walker misses two point putback layup | ||
| 6:37 | | Duop Reath offensive rebound | ||
| 6:37 | | Duop Reath misses two point tip layup | ||
| 6:36 | | Duop Reath offensive rebound | ||
| 6:36 | | +2 | Duop Reath makes two point tip layup | 44-37 |
| 6:25 | | Scoot Henderson shooting foul (Mike Conley draws the foul) | ||
| 6:25 | | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:25 | | +1 | Mike Conley makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 45-37 |
| 6:25 | | +1 | Mike Conley makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 46-37 |
| 6:11 |