NBA Final Score: Timberwolves 144, Kings 117
Anthony Edwards overcame a slow start, missing his first five shots, then surged with 26 points to dominate the Kings. The Minnesota Timberwolves began a quick road back-to-back on Sunday in Sacramento. The two teams entered on different trajectories: Minnesota had just crushed the Utah Jazz by 40 points, while Sacramento suffered a 31-point loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Game Overview
The Timberwolves wore their classic retro black tree jerseys, inspired by Minnesota’s heritage. Rudy Gobert made an immediate impact, blocking a jumper from Domantas Sabonis—who returned after missing two games—recovering the loose ball, and finishing with a coast-to-coast layup. Gobert remained flawless, shooting 4-for-4 and recording three blocks in the first quarter alone.
Early Sacramento Efforts
Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle provided early scoring to offset Edwards's rough start, as he missed his initial five attempts in his first full game wearing the retro jersey. The Kings stayed close with effective three-point shooting, hitting six of eleven behind the arc, and led only narrowly as Minnesota held a 31-25 advantage.
Playing Styles
Sacramento maintained a heavy reliance on isolation and one-on-one plays, which ultimately limited their team offensive flow against Minnesota’s balanced attack.
"Rudy Gobert made sure to do them justice. He opened the game by blocking a Domantas Sabonis jumper, corralling the loose ball, then finishing a coast-to-coast layup."
Author's summary: Anthony Edwards's resilience and Rudy Gobert’s defensive dominance propelled the Timberwolves to a commanding victory over the Kings, showcasing Minnesota's depth and cohesion early in their road series.