Edwards scores 34 as Wolves beat Spurs 114-105 without Towns

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards is helped off the court after sustaining an injury during the first half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 34 points, returning from an injury scare right before halftime, and the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the San Antonio Spurs 114-105 on Tuesday night without All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns.

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, left, works toward the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Towns missed the game due to personal reasons. Earlier in the day, Towns memorialized a high school teammate on Instagram. Minnesota coach Chris Finch said before the game that he hoped Towns would only miss one game.

Rudy Gobert, back after missing a game with a left ankle sprain, added 13 points and 17 rebounds for the Timberwolves in his latest matchup with fellow French countryman Victor Wembanyama.

Wembanyama had 17 points and 13 rebounds as San Antonio lost its fifth in a row and 12 of its past 13 games. Wembanyama scored eight points in just over five minutes to open the game but didn’t score again until a 3 with 2:55 left in the third quarter.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, bottom, lies on the court the court after sustaining an injury during the first half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Naz Reid added 22 points off the bench for Minnesota, which has won six of seven and started the day tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder atop the Western Conference at 40-17.

Edwards appeared to injure his left ankle before halftime, staying on the ground for several minutes before he was helped off with assistance from team athletic trainers. But Edwards came out after halftime as an anxious crowd cheered him taking shots before the second half.

San Antonio Spurs guard Blake Wesley, right, goes up for a shot as Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Edwards hit a wide-open 3-pointer to provide an 83-61 lead near the end of the third quarter to bring the crowd out of its seats, and then stole the ball at half-court and finished with a windmill dunk to show the injury was no bother to the star guard.

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, right, talks with referee Eric Dalen during a timeout in the first half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

With Wembanyama scoring, San Antonio used an 8-0 run to take an early lead, but Minnesota followed with its own 12-1 run — with six points from Edwards — to take control. The Wolves eventually led by as many as 24.

Devin Vassell added 21 points and Keldon Johnson had 20 for San Antonio, which did close within six with 33.6 seconds left. The Spurs committed 23 turnovers, leading to 30 points for the Timberwolves.

Minnesota forward Kyle Anderson left the game in the third with left hamstring tightness and didn’t return.

UP NEXT

Spurs: Return home against Oklahoma City on Thursday.

Timberwolves: Host Memphis on Wednesday.

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