SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In an exciting season opener for the Kings, Anthony Edwards sealed the game for the Timberwolves by sinking two free throws with just 2.4 seconds left, leading Minnesota to a 117-115 victory on Thursday night.
Edwards was fouled on a drive by Domantas Sabonis while the score was tied, and he calmly converted both attempts, finishing the night with 32 points.
The Kings had a chance to equalize but Keegan Murray’s 3-point shot hit the rim as the buzzer sounded.
Julius Randle was the standout player for the Timberwolves, contributing 33 points in only his second game following a trade from New York earlier this month.
For the Kings, DeMar DeRozan led the scoring with 26 points in his debut with Sacramento, having joined the team this summer in a sign-and-trade from Chicago.
Sabonis and Murray also had solid performances, adding 24 and 23 points respectively.
In terms of key takeaways, the Timberwolves finished their initial road trip in California with a split record, bouncing back from a loss to the Lakers earlier in the week.
Randle showed increased aggressiveness in this game, especially compared to his debut where he only took ten shots.
Meanwhile, the Kings continue to struggle at home during season openers, having lost their last six such games, with their last victory at home dating back to 2013 against the Denver Nuggets.
A crucial moment in the game came when Edwards and Naz Reid hit consecutive 3-pointers, sparking an impressive 11-0 run that flipped a five-point deficit into a 105-99 advantage for Minnesota midway through the final quarter.
As for statistics, the Timberwolves significantly improved their shooting from long range, moving from 13-of-41 in their first game to 20-of-50 against Sacramento.
With 91 three-point attempts across the first two games, this marks a record high for the Timberwolves at this stage of the season.
Looking ahead, the Timberwolves are set to host the Toronto Raptors for their home opener on Saturday night.
On the other hand, the Kings will travel to Los Angeles to challenge the Lakers on the same evening.