Anthony Edwards nets 34 as Wolves hold on vs. Blazers
Anthony Edwards scored 34 points and Jaden McDaniels added 29 points, matched his career best of five blocked shots and had three steals to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 124-121 victory over the host Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night.
Donte DiVincenzo added 19 points as the Timberwolves won for the fourth time in the past five games. Edwards, McDaniels and DiVincenzo each knocked down five 3-pointers as Minnesota made 17 of 35 (48.6%) from long range.
Ruby Gobert collected 19 rebounds to go with 10 rebounds as Minnesota improved to 3-0 against Portland this season. The teams meet again in Minneapolis on March 20.
Portland All-Star Deni Avdija (back) sat out for the 11th time in the past 18 games.
Jrue Holiday scored 22 points, Jerami Grant added 21 points and reserve Scoot Henderson had 19 for Portland, which lost for the third time in five games. Kris Murray had 16 points and Donovan Clingan contributed 11 points and 16 rebounds for the Trail Blazers.
Portland trailed by four after Toumani Camara's hoop with 1:37 left. However, Edwards hit a 3-pointer and McDaniels delivered a dunk to give Minnesota a 120-111 lead with 1:09 remaining and the Timberwolves held off a late charge.
Minnesota shot 53.4% from the field, led by McDaniels making 12 of 16 and missing just one of his six 3-point attempts.
The Trail Blazers connected on 47.2% of their attempts and made 14 of 35 (40%) from behind the arc. Matisse Thybulle added 10 points for Portland.
Shaedon Sharpe (left calf) missed his seventh game for the Trail Blazers. Earlier in the day, Portland announced Sharpe also has a left fibula injury and will be re-evaluated in 4 to 6 weeks.
McDaniels made two 3-pointers and Reid hit one during an 11-0 surge as Minnesota took an 84-76 advantage with 6:01 left in the third quarter.
The Trail Blazers scored 18 of the next 28 points to tie it at 94 on two free throws by Henderson with 34.4 seconds left.
Henderson was double-teamed during the final seconds and DiVincenzo drove for a dunk with 0.8 seconds left as the Timberwolves took a 96-94 lead into the final quarter.
Minnesota scored eight straight on Randle's three-point play, Gobert's putback and Reid's 3-pointer to take a 109-102 lead with 6:47 left in the game.
Edwards scored 25 points in the first half as Minnesota took a 62-59 lead. Murray had 14 in the half for Portland.