NBA Final Score — Timberwolves 144, Kings 117: Edwards Overwhelms Sacramento
After a rocky start missing his first five attempts, Anthony Edwards erupted for 26 points, powering the Minnesota Timberwolves to a dominant victory over the Sacramento Kings. The game marked the first of a quick road back-to-back for Minnesota, beginning in Sacramento on Sunday night.
The teams entered under very different circumstances. Minnesota had crushed the Utah Jazz by 40 points on Friday, while Sacramento was handed a 31-point defeat by the Oklahoma City Thunder. The question was whether either team could reset in just 48 hours.
Gobert Sets the Tone Early
Wearing their classic retro black tree jerseys, the Timberwolves found rhythm early thanks to Rudy Gobert. He opened the game with a block on Domantas Sabonis, who had just returned from a two-game absence, secured the loose ball, and finished the play with a coast-to-coast layup. Gobert went a perfect four-for-four from the field and added three blocks in the first quarter alone.
Slow Start for Edwards Balanced by Teammates
Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle provided early stability as Edwards struggled to find his shot in the opening minutes of his first full game in the tree jerseys. Their efforts allowed Minnesota to take a narrow 31–25 lead despite Sacramento sinking six of their eleven three-point attempts in the period.
"Sacramento continued to play a style of basketball that relied heavily on isolation one-on-one possessions."
That isolation approach proved unsustainable as the Kings’ offense stagnated while Minnesota's balance and energy carried them to a resounding 144–117 win.
Author’s Summary
Edwards overcame a cold start as the Timberwolves, led by a dominant Gobert, dismantled Sacramento through energy, teamwork, and superior execution.