Anthony Edwards scored 26 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves jumped on the Oklahoma City Thunder early and rolled to a 123-111 home win Thursday.
Playing their fourth game in five nights, the Timberwolves had plenty of juice right off the bat, jumping out to a 12-point first-quarter lead and leading the whole way.
Edwards was at the center of things early, hitting a 3-pointer off a Donte DiVincenzo steal on Minnesota’s first possession of the game and scoring 12 of the Timberwolves’ 34 first-quarter points.
Jaden McDaniels added 21 points, going 5 for 5 on 3-pointers while Naz Reid added 18 points off the bench. Rody Gobert had 14 rebounds and 11 rebounds. McDaniels’ 3-point total tied a career high.
Gilgous-Alexander scored 11 in the second quarter and 15 more in the third, finishing with a game-high 30 points, eight assists and six rebounds on 12-of-18 shooting. It was Gilgeous-Alexander’s 33rd 30-plus point game of the season.
The Timberwolves’ first four field goals came from behind the arc and they hit eight 3-pointers in the opening quarter, three from Edwards.
Minnesota tied its season high with 22 3-pointers, hitting 46.8% from beyond the arc.
The win was the third consecutive for the Timberwolves since snapping a five-game losing streak Monday with a win over Golden State.
The loss was the third in the last four games for the Thunder.
Oklahoma City never got closer than 11 points after the first quarter.
Gilgeous-Alexander tied a season high with five turnovers.
Oklahoma City big man Isaiah Hartenstein returned for the first time since Dec. 28, coming off the bench for the first time this season.
Hartenstein’s minutes were limited in his first game back from a calf strain, and he finished with 11 points and five rebounds in more than 18 minutes.
Chet Holmgren added 15 points and three blocks in the loss
