Anthony Edwards scored 31 points despite a twisted ankle, Mike Conley had a season-high 25 points in his return to
Utah, and the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the struggling Jazz 119-100 on Saturday night.
Edwards stepped on Taylor Hendricks’ foot while driving and turned his right ankle shortly before halftime. He
stood up, hobbling, and headed right to the locker room.
Edwards jumped rope during the break and began the second half, but appeared slower and less explosive.
Nonetheless, he hit four 3-pointers, a layup, and a circus three-point play in the final two quarters to help Minnesota
hold Utah at bay.
The game marked Conley’s first appearance in Utah since being traded in February 2023 after four seasons with the
Jazz, and it was his biggest scoring output with Minnesota.
Collin Sexton scored 22 points and Keyonte George added 18 for the Jazz, who have lost four of their last five. They
will host Minnesota on Monday.
George had scored at least 25 points in three consecutive games, but the Timberwolves made a deliberate attempt to
show him additional men on drives and force him to pass the ball.
Naz Reid led the Wolves with 22 points and 12 rebounds in a 118-100 victory over the Clippers on Tuesday, avoiding
their first three-game losing streak of the season.
The Jazz were without Jordan Clarkson (groin), Lauri Markkanen (thigh), and John Collins (rest), so they relied on
their younger players and kept the game close until the fourth quarter.
Edwards frequently has to bear the weight for Minnesota. This time, Conley relieved some of the load on the injured
All-Star by scoring eight points in a 13-0 third-quarter surge that gave Minnesota a 68-57 advantage.
Omer Yurtseven, who had 14 points, helped the Jazz pull within 93-85 midway through the fourth quarter. But
Edwards replied with a three-pointer, and the Jazz struggled to score the rest of the way.
Rudy Gobert, a former Jazz center, missed the game due to strained ribs. Minnesota improved to 2-2 without Gobert
on the roster.
