MINNEAPOLIS – In a spectacular display of offensive prowess, Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards propelled the Minnesota Timberwolves to a dominant 127-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night. Towns delivered a season-high 40 points and 12 rebounds, while Edwards added an impressive 37 points, driving the Timberwolves to their 11th home win, tying them with Boston for the league’s best record at 19-5.
Towns, achieving his highest scoring total since his career-best 60 points in March 2022, was a force to be reckoned with throughout the game. Edwards, just one point shy of his season high, matched Towns’ energy, contributing significantly to the team’s offense. Together, they accounted for 54 of the Wolves’ first 75 points, each scoring 27 in the process.
Edwards acknowledged Towns’ consistent performance over the years, saying, “He’s always been efficient, gets us points. Tries to do everything he can to help us win. He’s always been like that. That’s KAT.”
The Timberwolves were exceptional in their shooting, recording a season-high 55.8% from the field and a remarkable 60% from the three-point line, with 18 successful shots from beyond the arc.
Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle commended the Timberwolves, recognizing the challenge they posed. “This is one of the best teams on the planet,” Carlisle said, emphasizing the valuable experience gained by his young players in this matchup.
The Pacers, led by Bruce Brown and Aaron Nesmith with 17 points each, struggled despite shooting 50%. Missing their top scorer Tyrese Haliburton due to a knee injury, and dealing with travel delays, Indiana faced a tough situation playing their third road game in four nights.
Haliburton’s absence was keenly felt, as he leads the team with an average of 25.7 points and 12 assists per game. Carlisle did not specify a return timetable for Haliburton, a significant blow for the Pacers.
Towns’ offensive onslaught began in the second quarter, scoring 20 points by the midpoint. However, the Pacers initially held their own, leading by six before Edwards took charge. Scoring 14 points in the final four minutes of the second quarter, including four three-pointers and a reverse layup, Edwards shifted the game’s momentum in favor of Minnesota.
The Timberwolves’ surge continued in the third quarter, outscoring the Pacers 39-23, with notable contributions from Naz Reid and Troy Brown Jr. Minnesota’s defense, which allows the league-lowest 105.7 points on average, was also instrumental in securing the win.
“Our defense did a good job getting us into this game tonight. Offensively, it’s great to hit some shots, but being able to fall back on our identity and our standards defensively found our way to the win,” Towns remarked.
The Timberwolves suffered a setback when starting forward Jaden McDaniels left the game with a bruised tailbone.
UP NEXT
The Pacers return home to face the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday, hoping to bounce back from this defeat. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves will look to carry their winning momentum into Miami as they face off against the Heat on Monday.
