The Minnesota Timberwolves faced the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento as part of a quick road back-to-back on Sunday. Both teams entered the game on very different streaks: the Wolves had just crushed the Utah Jazz by 40 points, while the Kings were beaten by the Oklahoma City Thunder by 31.
Minnesota wore their classic retro black tree jerseys, with Rudy Gobert setting the tone early. Gobert blocked a jumper by Domantas Sabonis, who recently returned from a two-game absence, grabbed the loose ball, and finished with a coast-to-coast layup. Gobert was flawless in the first period, shooting 4 for 4 and making three blocks.
Although Anthony Edwards started cold, missing his first five shots, he later erupted for 26 points, overpowering the Kings. Early scoring by Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle helped Sacramento stay competitive initially.
The Timberwolves led by just 31-25 after the opening quarter, as Sacramento hit six of eleven three-pointers. However, the Kings relied heavily on isolation plays, which eventually proved ineffective against Minnesota's strong defense and balanced offense.
"After starting the game missing all five of his shots, Anthony Edwards exploded for 26 points to pound the Kings into a pulp."
"Rudy Gobert made sure to do them justice. He opened the game by blocking a Domantas Sabonis jumper, corralling the loose ball, then finishing a coast-to-coast layup."
Overall, the Timberwolves demonstrated dominance by combining solid defense with an offensive surge after a slow start from Edwards.
Summary: Despite a slow beginning, Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert propelled the Timberwolves to a decisive 144-117 victory over the Kings, showcasing strong defense and relentless scoring.