Seven Timberwolves scored in double figures and one of them wasn’t Anthony Edwards Friday night in Memphis. Edwards, the 22-year-old budding superstar, played just 3 minutes, 43 seconds before his right hip injury knocked him out of the game.
Without Edwards, the Timberwolves used a balanced effort to destroy the Ja Morant-less Grizzlies, running away with a 127-103 victory – Minnesota’s sixth straight and their NBA-leading 17th of the season.
At 17-4, they own the best record in the league and with Denver’s game still in progress Friday night they were 3 1/2 games clear of every team in the Western Conference.
Edwards left the game in the first quarter after driving towards the basket and coming up lame. He grabbed at his right hip and signaled to the bench for a sub.
“It kind of flared up on him, so hopefully we can get him back right,” head coach Chris Finch said afterward.
Anthony Edwards (Right Hip Pointer) is QUESTIONABLE to return to tonight’s game. #RaisedByWolves | #NBA pic.twitter.com/vA45PJroAs
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) December 9, 2023
Edwards suffered the right hip pointer on Nov. 28 against the Thunder. He was held out of two games and returned to play 37 minutes in a win over the Spurs on Wednesday. There were moments in the game where Edwards appeared to be bothered by his hip, though he said afterward that it eventually loosened up.
Without Edwards, Troy Brown Jr. played 30 minutes and finished with 20 points, four rebounds and four assists. But the star of the game was Rudy Gobert, who posted a second straight 20-rebound game, finishing with 16 points, 20 rebounds and a season-high six blocks.
Everyone had a good night, really.
- Karl-Anthony Towns: 24 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker: 14 points, 4-of-8 from 3
- Mike Conley: 19 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists
- Kyle Anderson: 7 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists
- Naz Reid: 10 points, 9 rebounds
- Shake Milton: 17 points, 3-of-5 from 3
Up next: Timberwolves vs. Pelicans, Monday at 7 p.m. CT.
