NBA: Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves pull away from Nets

Anthony Edwards scored 29 points and grabbed eight rebounds, and the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled away for a 101-86 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night in Minneapolis.

Karl-Anthony Towns added 28 points and nine rebounds for the Timberwolves, who bounced back on short rest from a loss against the Milwaukee Bucks one night earlier. Mike Conley finished with 14 points.

Cam Thomas scored 18 points to lead Brooklyn, which lost its fourth game in a row. Mikal Bridges finished with 15 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and Nic Claxton contributed 12 points and seven rebounds.

Minnesota outscored Brooklyn 31-20 in the fourth quarter to help seal the victory.

Brooklyn trailed 80-78 with 6:35 to go. The Nets' chances diminished as the Timberwolves went on a 9-0 run to pull ahead 89-78 with 4:21 remaining.

Jaden McDaniels made a 3-pointer and Edwards made a long two-point jump shot during the run. Towns added two free throws and Kyle Anderson made a layup.

The Timberwolves led 70-66 at the end of the third quarter.

Towns made a pair of 3-pointers in the first two minutes of the second half. Edwards, Conley and Monte Morris also made one 3-pointer apiece during the third quarter.

Brooklyn led 45-42 at the half.

The Nets built a 22-12 lead to open the game. Day'Ron Sharpe made a basket to give Brooklyn a double-digit advantage with 2:42 left in the first quarter.

The Timberwolves closed the first quarter on an 11-0 run to grab a 23-22 lead.

Neither team led by more than five points during a back-and-forth second quarter.

Claxton made a driving layup in the final seconds to give Brooklyn a three-point lead heading into halftime.

Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert did not play on the second night of a back-to-back set because of a left ankle sprain.

Nets forward Ben Simmons exited the game because of left leg soreness and did not return. Simmons finished with four points and eight rebounds in 15 minutes.

--Field Level Media/Reuters