NBA: Anthony Edwards, Naz Reid lead Timberwolves past Heat
Anthony Edwards scored a game-high 33 points, and reserve Naz Reid added 29 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the host Miami Heat 125-115 on Saturday night.
The Timberwolves, who have won five of their past eight games, also got 23 points and 10 rebounds from Julius Randle. Rudy Gobert posted a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Four of his buckets were dunks.
Edwards, who entered the night ranked eighth in the NBA in scoring average (29.1), made 10 of 19 shots from the floor. Reid made 10 of 15 shots, including 4 of 7 on 3-pointers.
Miami, which had its four-game win streak snapped, was led by Norman Powell (21 points). Powell temporarily left the game in the second quarter due to right-leg soreness.
In addition, Miami got 14 points each from Davion Mitchell and reserve Nikola Jovic.
The Heat suffered a serious blow in the second quarter when Jaime Jaquez Jr. left the game due to a sprained right ankle. Jaquez, one of the frontrunners for NBA Sixth Man of the Year, did not return, and he finished with just six points in 10 minutes.
Minnesota, thanks in large part to 14 points from Edwards, won the first quarter, 29-27. The Timberwolves also had a 12-0 run in the period.
The Timberwolves extended their lead to 56-50 at halftime. Minnesota shot 57.1 percent from the floor in the second quarter.
By halftime, Edwards led all scorers with 20 points on 6-for-10 shooting.
Miami surged ahead 68-66 on a second-chance 3-pointer by Powell with 6:55 left in the third.
However, by the end of the third, Minnesota was back on top, 90-86, as Randle had 12 points in the quarter.
The Timberwolves, who are 10-7 on the road this season, poured it on in the fourth quarter.
For the game, Minnesota shot 54.1 percent from the floor, outscoring Miami 58-50 in the paint.
Miami shot 47.1% from the floor. —Field Level Media/Reuters