Tag: Houston

With the Minnesota Timberwolves missing two key players and looking for a boost in the middle of the season, Anthony Edwards showed he could step up to the level of an NBA superstar.

In two games over two days, he scored 90 points and helped the team secure two wins.

“I think he knows what we need from him now,” said head coach Chris Finch, praising Edwards for his consistent aggression in driving to the basket during the 127-114 win over Houston on Thursday.

“He’s making quick decisions. When he has a chance to race, he races. When he has a chance to shoot, he shoots. When he comes and catches the ball behind the play, he’s playing off the catch more, and that’s really resulting in a lot of trips to the free-throw line,” Finch added. “That’s exactly the way we need him to play. He’s been special these last couple of games, absolutely special.”

Edwards reached two important milestones on Thursday. He scored his 14th career 40-point game, surpassing Karl-Anthony Towns for the most in Timberwolves history, and at age 23, he became the youngest player in NBA history to make 1,000 three-pointers.

In his two games against Chicago and Houston, he shot 24 for 53 from the field, 11 for 26 from three-point range, and 31 for 33 from the free-throw line.

“It feels incredible, man, because of all the criticism I received coming into the league about my jumper,” Edwards said, noting that he’s shooting a career-best 42.1% from 3-point range. “Now I love to see what the critics say about my jumper.”

For the Timberwolves to reach their full potential, they need Edwards to not only perform well offensively but also become a leader for the team. This week, he’s shown his leadership, most notably by standing up to Dillon Brooks of the Rockets in a heated game without losing his cool.

“Once me and Dillon Brooks got into it, the fatigue went out the way. At that point, you can’t use that excuse because somebody tries you, you try them back,” Edwards said. “At that point, it’s time to hoop. I couldn’t use fatigue as a bailout in that moment. I had to show up.”

The trade that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to New York for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo gave Edwards a bigger leadership role. Towns had been the glue in the locker room, always keeping the mood light and spirits high, but now Edwards clearly has the loudest voice, both literally and symbolically.

“As a team, we have a view of ourselves as being held to a higher standard and that we should be playing at a higher level and we just haven’t been,” said point guard Mike Conley. “He’s done a really good job of not letting those frustrations dictate the way he comes and approaches every game.”

After their strong 2023-24 season, which ended in the Western Conference finals, the Timberwolves have had a much tougher ride in 2024-25. They’ve had to adjust to a new lineup, injuries to Randle and DiVincenzo, and the tougher competition they now face due to their increased profile in the league.

Edwards himself has faced challenges, like dealing with double-teams and foul calls from referees, which he has loudly criticized, leading to fines totaling $285,000 this season.

As a team, the Timberwolves have struggled with slow starts, especially against teams that are missing key players or ranked low. This issue of focus and maturity begins with Edwards. Finch has not hesitated to call out the team’s uneven efforts, but Edwards has had little to criticize over the last two games.

Not only did Edwards perform well during a difficult back-to-back set of games, but he also helped give the team momentum at a crucial time. While many Western Conference teams upgraded their lineups before the trade deadline, the Timberwolves decided to stand pat, trusting that a healthy Randle and DiVincenzo will provide a big boost after the All-Star break.

The Timberwolves, with a 21-14 record against the West, are facing a tough stretch of games. After hosting Portland on Saturday, their next seven games include three against the top-ranked Oklahoma City team, one against the East-leading Cleveland team, and three more against teams in the top five of either conference.

“The plan is always to deliver, but if it don’t go my way, then I’ll be OK. I don’t really stress about it,” Edwards said. “However it goes, it goes. I know I put the work in.”

The Minnesota Timberwolves will look for their second straight win when they face the Houston Rockets on Thursday night in Minneapolis.

Minnesota comes off a 127-108 victory against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. Anthony Edwards scored 49 points, including 30 in the second half, helping the Timberwolves end a two-game losing streak.

The win showed that the Timberwolves can still score without Julius Randle, their second-highest scorer this season. Randle is expected to miss at least two more weeks due to a right adductor strain.

Minnesota might get some help soon, as rookie Terrence Shannon Jr. has returned to practice after missing over a month due to a right foot sprain. He could be a strong candidate for more playing time in Randle’s absence.

Coach Chris Finch said, “He’s certainly on the fringe right now of getting into the rotation at any point. He plays with a lot of force (and) physicality, too, something that we need back in the lineup somehow with (Randle) out. I would say he’s extremely close. He’s ready to go. I think he’s kind of close to breaking through.”

Two other rookies, Rob Dillingham and Jaylen Clark, have earned more playing time recently. Clark, in particular, has impressed with his defensive play and hard-nosed approach.

The Rockets are trying to snap a four-game losing streak. Houston has lost to the Brooklyn Nets twice, and the New York Knicks and Memphis Grizzlies once each.

Houston is also dealing with injuries to important players like Jabari Smith (hand) and Tari Eason (leg). Veteran guard Fred VanVleet missed Houston’s last game because of an ankle injury and could be out for another week or more.

VanVleet, 30, is averaging 14.6 points and 5.8 assists this season.

Houston coach Ime Udoka said he doesn’t want to use injuries as an excuse for the team’s struggles. He is looking for better defense, especially against Edwards.

After a 99-97 loss to the Nets on Tuesday, Udoka challenged his players’ competitiveness, saying, “Very soft and uncompetitive defensively. Just going at us 1-on-1, we’re complaining about offensive fouls, not boxing out, not doing our assignments. Even our supposed defenders got cooked (against the Nets).”

Thursday’s game will be the third of four regular-season meetings between the two teams. Houston won the first matchup 117-111 in overtime on Nov. 26 in Minneapolis. VanVleet led the Rockets with 27 points, and Alperen Sengun and Dillon Brooks scored 22 each.

Minnesota won 113-112 in the second game on Dec. 27 in Houston. Randle led the Timberwolves with 27 points, and Edwards added 24 points on 9-for-17 shooting.