MINNEAPOLIS — In an impressive display, Anthony Edwards poured in 49 points, including a dominant 20-point third quarter, helping the Minnesota Timberwolves secure a 127-108 victory against the depleted Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.
Edwards showcased his scoring prowess by connecting on six three-pointers and finishing an impressive 17 of 18 from the free-throw line, in addition to grabbing nine rebounds. His performance tied him with Kevin Garnett for the second-most 30-point games in Timberwolves history and matched Karl-Anthony Towns for the all-time most 40-point games.
Naz Reid also had a remarkable game, contributing 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Rudy Gobert added a solid double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds.
For the Bulls, Coby White led the scoring with 20 points, and Nikola Vucevic contributed a double-double of his own with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Chicago entered the game with a thin roster, missing key players including center Zach Collins, swingman Kevin Huerter, and guard Tre Jones due to a recent trade that sent Zach LaVine to Sacramento while also trading De’Aaron Fox to San Antonio.
Moreover, point guard Lonzo Ball did not play due to knee management following Chicago’s previous night’s victory over Miami.
Highlights from the game included the Bulls’ ability to rally back from an early 22-4 deficit Minnesota established in the first quarter, which grew to a 21-point lead midway through.
Despite facing a short-handed opponent, the Timberwolves were eager for a win after suffering two consecutive losses to Washington and Sacramento, who was also missing Fox.
A pivotal moment occurred when the Bulls managed to take an 82-79 lead with 4:08 remaining in the third quarter. Following a Timberwolves timeout, Edwards quickly swung momentum back in Minnesota’s favor with a three-pointer. He then showcased his defensive skills by blocking a three-point attempt from Chicago. Although he missed another three, Edwards hustled for an offensive rebound and scored on a putback while drawing a foul, converting the ensuing free throw to give the Wolves a three-point lead they would not relinquish.
A notable statistic from the game was Minnesota’s three-point shooting, where they hit 9 of 16 attempts in the first quarter, marking the team’s highest rate for any quarter this season.
Looking ahead, the Bulls will host the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, while the Timberwolves will welcome the Houston Rockets to their court on Thursday night.
