In a thrilling match-up on Thursday night, Anthony Edwards delivered an impressive performance, scoring 41 points along with seven rebounds and six assists, leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 127-114 victory over the Houston Rockets. Edwards showcased his ability to dominate the game after having a remarkable showing the previous night, where he netted 49 points against Chicago. He set the tone early with 18 points in the first quarter and maintained his momentum into the final quarter, where he added another 16 points, starting the period with the Timberwolves trailing by six.
The fourth quarter kicked off with Rudy Gobert executing two consecutive dunks, setting the stage for Edwards, who then connected on three long-range shots. This offensive surge helped Minnesota overpower Houston 35-16 in the final 12 minutes of play. Besides Edwards, Jaylen Clark achieved a career-high 17 points for the Timberwolves, and Naz Reid contributed with 15 points and 11 rebounds. For the Rockets, Jalen Green led the scoring with 28 points, supported by Alperen Sengun, who posted 16 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. Unfortunately for Houston, this loss marked their fifth consecutive defeat.
In terms of team dynamics, the Rockets have established themselves as a formidable road team in the league, recording 17 wins away from home—more than all but one NBA team as of this game. However, their current streak includes four straight losses during away games. On the other hand, the Timberwolves were playing their fourth game at home in a five-game stretch and held a record of 14-12 at home compared to their 15-11 performance on the road. The back-to-back strong fourth quarters may signal that Minnesota is beginning to hit their stride.
A pivotal moment came with less than five minutes left in the contest when Edwards missed a three-pointer. However, Clark was quick to secure the rebound and tossed it back to Edwards. The star player then drove toward the basket, drawing a foul while successfully making a short jumper. Following a successful free throw, Edwards sank another three-pointer on the next play to put Minnesota ahead 113-106, proving crucial in their comeback.
An important statistic from the game was that Minnesota managed to out-rebound Houston, a team recognized as the top rebounding squad in the NBA, by a score of 47-39.
Looking ahead, both teams will take the court again on Saturday, with the Rockets set to face the Dallas Mavericks while the Timberwolves will host the Portland Trail Blazers.
