LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Anthony Edwards scored 38 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves ended the Boston Celtics’ unbeaten start to the season while James Harden made a losing start in his Los Angeles Clippers debut.
Edwards’ points tally included eight in overtime to help Minnesota claim a 114-109 win over a Celtics team who owned the last undefeated record in the league prior to the game.
“I let my team down in the last quarter by missing two shots; I said to myself I’ve got to make up for it by taking over in overtime,” Edwards said after the win.
Jaden McDaniels gave Edwards offensive support with 20 points, including a jump shot with 16 seconds remaining that effectively sealed victory for Minnesota.
“We’re the dynamic duo,” Edwards quipped.
“I trust him. I give him the ball whenever he wants; he’s the reason we won tonight.”
Elsewhere Monday, new Clippers recruit Harden finished with 17 points and six assists but could not prevent his new team falling to a 111-97 road defeat to the New York Knicks.
The 34-year-old former NBA Most Valuable Player was one of five Clippers players in double figures but Tyronn Lue’s star-studded lineup was outgunned by the Knicks’ R.J. Barrett and Julius Randle, who combined for 53 points.
Clippers coach Lue liked what he saw from Harden despite his team’s defeat.
“I thought James was really good,” Lue said.
“It’s going to take him a little time to get in game shape, we understand that. But his presence on the floor was definitely felt.”
New York ran away with the game in a one-sided fourth quarter, outscoring the Clippers 35-21 for a win that sees them improve to 3-4 in the Eastern Conference.
In other games, Indiana gave rising San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama a reality check in a 152-111 drubbing.
Wembanyama had earned rave reviews after posting 20 points against Toronto on Sunday and 38 points in a victory over Phoenix last Thursday.
But the 19-year-old’s hot hand went stone cold in Indianapolis, with the French teenager shooting just 3-of-12 from the field to finish 13 points.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said only two of his players — Keldon Johnson and Zach Collins — had performed well.
