Anthony Edwards scored 24 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns added 22, leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to a commanding 122-95 win over the Houston Rockets during Friday’s NBA action.
Despite Edwards having a quieter night than usual, following his 36.3 point average over the last four games, the Timberwolves still managed a significant victory. Towns also contributed with eight rebounds and six assists, emphasizing the team’s focus on making every shot challenging for their opponents.
“Just having that tenacity and physicality, making it difficult on opponents and making every possession a difficult shot,” Towns said. “Just doing more of that and getting back to that, we knew was important.”
In the middle of a seven-game homestand, the Rockets were led by Jalen Green with 20 points. Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. added 19 and 16 points, respectively. However, Rockets coach Ime Udoka, highlighted the team’s struggles with physicality and competitiveness in the game.
“I don’t really know if it was our lack of scoring or quality shots,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “I think they bullied us. It may not have anything to do with our offense, but I thought it was our poorest game from the standpoint of matching physicality and competitiveness and toughness tonight.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets Updates
The loss against the Timberwolves, leaders of the Western Conference, marked Houston’s eighth defeat in their last nine encounters with Minnesota. The Timberwolves dominated inside, outscoring the Rockets 60-46 in the paint and outrebounding them 51-39.
Edwards described the win as a great team effort, with everyone contributing positively. The Timberwolves, now 25-9, had a massive 33-point lead at one point and entered the fourth quarter with a significant advantage.
“Everybody played great tonight, everybody was happy,” Edwards said. “It was a great overall team win so it was dope.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets Updates
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch praised the team’s defensive effort, noting their attention to detail and disruptive play. Dillon Brooks missed his fifth consecutive game on the Rockets’ side due to an abdominal injury.
“I saw our defense in a lot of different ways,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “They were into it. They were being bothersome, and everybody was out there making grimy defensive plays. That’s the way we’ve got to be. It all started with our attention to detail and defense.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets Updates
After briefly leading in the first quarter, the Rockets mostly trailed behind the Timberwolves, who had a 56-46 lead at halftime.
Looking ahead, the Timberwolves are set to face the Dallas Mavericks, while the Rockets will host the Milwaukee Bucks in their upcoming games.
