By ASSOCIATED PRESS
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 26 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves matched a season high with 22 3-pointers in a 123-111 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night, Jan. 29.
Jaden McDaniels scored 21 points, including 5 of 5 from 3-point range, for the Timberwolves. Naz Reid added 18 points off the bench for Minnesota and connected four times from behind the arc.
Minnesota’s 22 3-pointers equaled the second-most surrendered by the Thunder this season. The Wolves shot 46.8% (22 of 47) from deep.
Minnesota has won three straight after snapping its season-long five-game losing streak. Oklahoma City has lost three of its last four games.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a game-high 30 points for Oklahoma City. Chet Holmgren added 15 points, while center Isaiah Hartenstein scored 11 points in his return to action after missing 16 games with a calf injury.
Despite getting leading rebounder Hartenstein back, the Thunder were outrebounded 46-36.
Minnesota was without veteran point guard Mike Conley. Bones Hyland saw extended playing time with Conley out, scoring nine points in 23 minutes.
A handful of careless turnovers by Minnesota allowed the Thunder to get back to within 13 points at 105-92. Donte DiVincenzo’s 3-pointer stopped the run, and both teams eventually emptied their benches.
The Timberwolves turned 16 Thunder turnovers into 30 points. Minnesota turned the ball over 20 times.
Minnesota found a rhythm from deep in the first quarter. The Wolves connected on 8 of 15 shots from 3-point range to take a 14-point lead after one. Edwards scored 12 of his 26 points in the first quarter.
Timberwolves players wore black T-shirts reading “STAND FOR MINNESOTA” during the pregame warmups in response to the fatal shootings by federal agents that have occurred in Minneapolis in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, Kevin Durant scored 31 points, and the Houston Rockets beat short-handed Atlanta, 104-86, ending the Hawks’ four-game winning streak.
The Rockets dominated the second half after leading only 43-42 at halftime. Jabari Smith had 14 points, and Reed Sheppard added 13. Sheppard’s 3-pointer gave the Rockets their first 20-point lead, 90-70.
The Hawks held out two frontline starters with injuries. Center Onyeka Okongwu suffered a dental fracture when he was elbowed in the mouth in Atlanta’s 117-106 win at Boston on Wednesday night. Forward Jalen Johnson was ruled out with left calf tightness.
The Hawks said Okongwu had a successful dental procedure on Thursday and also will miss Saturday’s game at Indiana.
The Hawks already were missing center Kristaps Porzingis (left Achilles tendinitis) and forward Zaccharie Risacher (left knee, bone contusion). Two-way rookie Asa Newell was recalled from G League College Park before the game. Center Christian Koloko, who signed with Atlanta on Jan. 17, made his first start in his fifth game with the Hawks.
CJ McCollum led Atlanta with 23 points. Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 20 and Corey Kispert added 17.
