LOS ANGELES (AFP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves poured it on in the fourth quarter, surging to a 118-103 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday to maintain their National Basketball Association Western Conference lead over Oklahoma City, who beat the Utah Jazz 134-129.
Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards shook off a slow start, scoring 26 of his 28 points in the second half, including 12 in the fourth quarter, when the Timberwolves outscored the Grizzlies 37-17.
“I just came out slow,” Edwards told broadcaster TNT.
“I just wasn’t ready to play tonight and I saw that if I didn’t bring it to the second half we weren’t going to be able to win that game.”
“So I decided to just pick it up,” he said. “I wasn’t ready to play early, so I had to find it.”
Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert added 17 points, 10 rebounds and six blocked shots and Naz Reid added 20 points off the bench to help Minnesota claw out the victory over the injury depleted Grizzlies, who are without star Ja Morant for the rest of the season and juggling a raft of other injuries as well.
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 36 points and Luke Kennard drilled five three-pointers on the way to 18 points for the Grizzlies, who had led most of the night.
The Timberwolves improved to 30-11, two games ahead of the Thunder, who silenced the Jazz behind 31 points, six rebounds and six assists from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Oklahoma City led throughout but the Jazz, who came in on a six-game winning streak, pushed them to the finish.
Jalen Williams scored 11 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and all five Thunder starters scored in double figures as Oklahoma City snapped a two-game skid.
