Karl-Anthony Towns helps T-wolves beat Jazz 101-90 with Edwards sidelined
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Karl-Anthony Towns had 32 points and 11 rebounds, and the Minnesota Timberwolves weathered the absence of leading scorer Anthony Edwards to beat the Utah Jazz 101-90 on Thursday night.
The Wolves moved into a tie with Boston for the best record in the league (14-4).
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored a season-high 20 points and Rudy Gobert had 15 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks for Minnesota.
Acquired in a trade with Utah last season that also brought veteran guard Mike Conley to the Wolves, Alexander-Walker had the chance to show his former team what he's capable of when given the opportunity.
“You try not to make it personal, because you want to come out the same way against every other team," Alexander-Walker said. “But I'm human at the end of the day, so it still feels good to win.”
Edwards, who averages 26.2 points per game, was sidelined with a right hip pointer he suffered in Tuesday’s win over Oklahoma City. Coach Chris Finch said Thursday he didn’t expect Edwards to be out long.
The Wolves improved to 9-1 at home, while the Jazz fell to 1-9 on the road.
Simone Fontecchio led Utah with 16 points and five assists. Ochai Agbaji had in 13 points and six rebounds for the Jazz, who also lost Wednesday at Memphis.
Utah shot 37.9% from the field, including 32.4% from 3-point range.
“Tonight, we really ultimately just struggled to put the ball in the basket,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “Minnesota is one of the best defensive teams in the league for a reason. ... They did a really good job of being disruptive tonight.”
Alexander-Walker helped ignite a 15-0 run in the second quarter that helped pull Minnesota out of a slow start. Part of that run was an easy layup for Alexander-Walker after one of his five steals.
“I thought that his intensity on the perimeter defensively sort of set the stage for their defense," Hardy said.
Towns scored seven straight points during the 15-0 run on the way to topping 30 points for the second time this season.
“We needed his firepower out there,” Finch said. “We needed a guy that we know we could go to to get a bucket.”
The Wolves shot 9 of 22 in the first quarter and trailed 23-20. Towns picked up his second foul with just over five minutes to play in the period.
Alexander-Walker scored 10 points in the second quarter, including a pair of 3-pointers.
Minnesota outscored Utah 35-19 in the third quarter.
UP NEXT
Jazz: At Portland on Saturday night.
Timberwolves: At Charlotte on Saturday.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Omer Yurtseven vs. Rudy Gobert (Karl-Anthony Towns gains possession) | ||
| 11:41 | | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point floating jump shot (Nickeil Alexander-Walker assists) | 0-2 |
| 11:24 |  | Simone Fontecchio misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:24 | | Simone Fontecchio offensive rebound | ||
| 11:20 | | Simone Fontecchio misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:18 | | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | ||
| 11:11 | | Rudy Gobert misses two point alley-oop layup | ||
| 11:08 | | Omer Yurtseven defensive rebound | ||
| 10:54 | | Keyonte George misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:51 | | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | ||
| 10:42 | | Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:39 | | Ochai Agbaji defensive rebound | ||
| 10:32 | | John Collins offensive foul (Nickeil Alexander-Walker draws the foul) | ||
| 10:32 | | John Collins turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 10:20 | | Mike Conley misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:17 | | Omer Yurtseven defensive rebound | ||
| 10:02 | | Keyonte George turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 9:54 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 9:52 | | Keyonte George defensive rebound | ||
| 9:38 | | +2 | Simone Fontecchio makes two point driving finger roll layup (Ochai Agbaji assists) | 2-2 |
| 9:18 | | +3 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes three point jump shot (Mike Conley assists) | 2-5 |
| 9:03 | | Keyonte George misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:59 | | John Collins offensive rebound | ||
| 8:56 | | +3 | Ochai Agbaji makes three point jump shot (Simone Fontecchio assists) | 5-5 |
| 8:40 | | +3 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes three point jump shot (Nickeil Alexander-Walker assists) | 5-8 |
| 8:24 | | +2 | Omer Yurtseven makes two point hook shot (Keyonte George assists) | 7-8 |
| 8:12 | | Karl-Anthony Towns offensive foul (John Collins draws the foul) | ||
| 8:12 | | Karl-Anthony Towns turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 7:56 | | Omer Yurtseven misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:54 | | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | ||
| 7:44 | | +2 | Rudy Gobert makes two point alley-oop dunk (Mike Conley assists) | 7-10 |
| 7:25 | | +2 | Ochai Agbaji makes two point cutting layup (Simone Fontecchio assists) | 9-10 |
| 7:08 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker turnover (bad pass) (Ochai Agbaji steals) | ||
| 7:00 | | Omer Yurtseven offensive foul (Nickeil Alexander-Walker draws the foul) | ||
| 7:00 | | Omer Yurtseven turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 6:51 | | Mike Conley misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:47 | | Ochai Agbaji defensive rebound | ||
| 6:34 | | +2 | Keyonte George makes two point driving layup | 11-10 |
| 6:34 | | Rudy Gobert shooting foul (Keyonte George draws the foul) | ||
| 6:34 | | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:34 | | +1 | Keyonte George makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 12-10 |
| 6:19 | | Walker Kessler blocks Karl-Anthony Towns's two point driving layup | ||
| 6:16 | | Keyonte George defensive rebound | ||
| 5:59 | | Simone Fontecchio turnover (lost ball) (Mike Conley steals) | ||
| 5:54 | | Troy Brown Jr. misses two point running reverse layup | ||
| 5:52 | | Keyonte George defensive rebound | ||
| 5:44 | | John Collins misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:41 | | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | ||
| 5:31 | | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point hook shot (Mike Conley assists) | 12-12 |
| 5:10 | | +2 | Keyonte George makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 14-12 |
| 5:01 | | Karl-Anthony Towns offensive foul (Keyonte George draws the foul) | ||
| 5:01 | | Karl-Anthony Towns turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 4:40 | | +2 | Simone Fontecchio makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Walker Kessler assists) | 16-12 |
| 4:27 | | Naz Reid misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:24 | | Walker Kessler defensive rebound | ||
| 4:18 | | +3 | Simone Fontecchio makes three point jump shot (Keyonte George assists) | 19-12 |
| 3:59 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:56 | | John Collins defensive rebound | ||
| 3:34 | | Jazz turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 3:25 | | Shake Milton misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:23 | | John Collins defensive rebound | ||
| 3:15 | | Rudy Gobert blocks John Collins's two point layup | ||
| 3:12 | | Shake Milton defensive rebound | ||
| 3:04 | | Shake Milton misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:02 | | John Collins defensive rebound | ||
| 2:55 | | John Collins misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 2:51 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker defensive rebound | ||
| 2:46 | | +2 | Shake Milton makes two point running layup (Nickeil Alexander-Walker assists) | 19-14 |
| 2:36 | | Simone Fontecchio offensive foul (Nickeil Alexander-Walker draws the foul) | ||
| 2:36 | | Simone Fontecchio turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 2:36 | | Jazz 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:17 | | Kyle Anderson misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 2:16 | | Rudy Gobert offensive rebound | ||
| 2:15 | | Rudy Gobert misses two point tip layup | ||
| 2:14 | | Walker Kessler defensive rebound | ||
| 1:54 | | Talen Horton-Tucker misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:51 | | Luka Samanic offensive rebound | ||
| 1:50 | | Luka Samanic turnover (lost ball) (Shake Milton steals) | ||
| 1:45 | | +2 | Naz Reid makes two point running dunk (Shake Milton assists) | 19-16 |
| 1:34 | | Mike Conley shooting foul (Collin Sexton draws the foul) | ||
| 1:34 | | +1 | Collin Sexton makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 20-16 |
| 1:34 | | +1 | Collin Sexton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-16 |
| 1:17 | | +2 | Rudy Gobert makes two point alley-oop dunk (Kyle Anderson assists) | 21-18 |
| 0:59 | | Rudy Gobert blocks Luka Samanic's two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 0:57 | | Naz Reid defensive rebound | ||
| 0:55 | | +2 | Naz Reid makes two point running finger roll layup (Kyle Anderson assists) | 21-20 |
| 0:47 | | Rudy Gobert personal foul (Collin Sexton draws the foul) | ||
| 0:47 | | +1 | Collin Sexton makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-20 |
| 0:47 | | +1 | Collin Sexton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-20 |
| 0:29 | | Mike Conley offensive foul (Collin Sexton draws the foul) | ||
| 0:29 | | Mike Conley turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 0:08 | | Talen Horton-Tucker misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 0:04 | | Mike Conley defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:41 | | +2 | Walker Kessler makes two point alley-oop dunk (Kelly Olynyk assists) | 25-20 |
| 11:25 | | +3 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes three point jump shot (Kyle Anderson assists) | 25-23 |
| 11:04 | | Walker Kessler misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:00 | | Jazz offensive rebound | ||
| 10:51 | | +2 | Walker Kessler makes two point cutting dunk (Collin Sexton assists) | 27-23 |
| 10:34 | | Walker Kessler blocks Karl-Anthony Towns's two point driving dunk | ||
| 10:31 | | Kelly Olynyk defensive rebound | ||
| 10:27 | | +2 | Luka Samanic makes two point layup (Collin Sexton assists) | 29-23 |
| 10:11 | | Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:07 | | Luka Samanic defensive rebound | ||
| 10:00 | | Kelly Olynyk misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 10:00 | | Timberwolves defensive rebound | ||
| 10:00 | | Walker Kessler personal foul (Loose ball) (Naz Reid draws the foul) | ||
| 9:50 | | Naz Reid misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:47 | | Luka Samanic defensive rebound | ||
| 9:36 | | +2 | Collin Sexton makes two point driving layup | 31-23 |
| 9:36 | | Mike Conley shooting foul (Collin Sexton draws the foul) | ||
| 9:36 | | +1 | Collin Sexton makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 32-23 |
| 9:19 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 9:16 | | Karl-Anthony Towns offensive rebound | ||
| 9:16 | | Karl-Anthony Towns misses two point tip layup | ||
| 9:16 | | Walker Kessler defensive rebound | ||
| 9:05 | | Luka Samanic turnover (bad pass) (Karl-Anthony Towns steals) | ||
| 9:00 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:57 | | Collin Sexton defensive rebound | ||
| 8:50 | | +3 | Kelly Olynyk makes three point jump shot (Collin Sexton assists) | 35-23 |
| 8:49 | | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | ||
| 8:38 | | Talen Horton-Tucker personal foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | ||
| 8:23 | | Shake Milton misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 8:19 | | Talen Horton-Tucker defensive rebound | ||
| 8:09 | | Kelly Olynyk turnover (bad pass) (Naz Reid steals) | ||
| 8:01 | | +3 | Troy Brown Jr. makes three point jump shot (Karl-Anthony Towns assists) | 35-26 |
| 7:47 | | Talen Horton-Tucker misses two point driving reverse layup | ||
| 7:47 | | Jazz offensive rebound | ||
| 7:36 | | Collin Sexton misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 7:33 | | Kelly Olynyk offensive rebound | ||
| 7:32 | | Naz Reid blocks Luka Samanic's two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 7:30 | | Timberwolves defensive rebound | ||
| 7:30 | | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:12 | | Naz Reid misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 7:10 | | Timberwolves offensive rebound | ||
| 7:07 | | Kelly Olynyk personal foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | ||
| 6:53 | | Daishen Nix misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:48 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker offensive rebound | ||
| 6:46 | | +3 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes three point jump shot (Troy Brown Jr. assists) | 35-29 |
| 6:45 | | Jazz 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:36 | | Keyonte George misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 6:34 | | Jazz offensive rebound | ||
| 6:34 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker personal foul (Loose ball) (Collin Sexton draws the foul) | ||
| 6:30 | | Walker Kessler turnover (bad pass) (Nickeil Alexander-Walker steals) | ||
| 6:27 | | +2 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes two point running layup | 35-31 |
| 6:09 | | Ochai Agbaji misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:07 | | Troy Brown Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 6:03 | | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point running dunk (Troy Brown Jr. assists) | 35-33 |
| 5:48 | | John Collins misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:46 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker defensive rebound | ||
| 5:34 | | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point layup | 35-35 |
| 5:34 | | John Collins shooting foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | ||
| 5:34 | | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 35-36 |
| 5:10 | | Simone Fontecchio misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 5:07 | | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | ||
| 4:56 | | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 35-38 |
| 4:47 | | Nickeil Alexander-Walker kicked ball violation | ||
| 4:33 |