Anthony Edwards made sure the Timberwolves put an end to their losing streak.
Edwards hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with about two minutes remaining and grabbed an offensive rebound on an offensive possession that ended up fruitless, but it was able to run out the clock on a 93-92 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers Friday night in an NBA Cup group-play game at Target Center in Minneapolis. The Wolves snapped a four-game skid.
Up 93-90 after Edwards hit the 3-pointer and went 1 for 2 from the free-throw line after being fouled on a drive the ensuing possession, the Wolves made a defensive stand and Nickeil Alexander-Walker forced a turnover out of Kevin Porter Jr. The Wolves, however, turned it over the ensuing possession and Ivica Zubac got a tip-in to cut it to one.
The Wolves came up fruitless on offense with the ball late, and Mike Conley missed a 3-pointer, but Edwards grabbed a rebound. While he missed a tip-in, the clock ran out for the Clippers, who never got another look at a game-winner.
Edwards finished with 21 points, four rebounds and three assists.
There were flashes of connectedness throughout the night for the Wolves. During the third quarter, Edwards picked up a technical foul after arguing a no-call. James Harden missed the technical free throw, and Edwards immediately responded with a 3-pointer. A couple possessions later, Donte DiVincenzo found a cutting Naz Reid for a layup and a 72-61 lead, Minnesota’s largest of the night. The Target Center crowd was electric as L.A. called a timeout.
There were, of course, still lowlights. The Wolves (9-10) turned it over three straight times to open the second half, and the Clippers (12-9) quickly closed their six-point deficit to two. DiVincenzo hit a 3-pointer in between Reid blocking Terrence Mann on back-to-back possessions, putting the Wolves up six. But Kevin Porter Jr., who had the hot hand, hit a jumper to end the run. Porter put up 17 points off the bench for Los Angeles. Harden led the Clippers with 20 points and 11 assists.
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