Julius Randle collected 24 points and 10 rebounds and Naz Reid added 20 and 11, respectively, fueling the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 117-103 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday in Minneapolis.
Jaden McDaniels had 21 points and Donte DiVincenzo and Bones Hyland each added 18 for the Timberwolves, who recorded their seventh win in their last eight games overall.
Minnesota, however, played its second straight game without three-time All-Star Anthony Edwards (right foot soreness) and backcourt mate Mike Conley (right Achilles tendinopathy).
Rudy Gobert left the game in the third quarter with what the team labeled as personal reasons. He finished with seven points and 12 rebounds.
The Timberwolves held a 48-36 advantage in rebounds en route to defeating the Kings for the third time in four meetings this season.
Sacramento’s DeMar DeRozan, Precious Achiuwa and Dennis Schroder each scored 17 points, Schroder made his return from a seven-game absence due to a hip issue.
Zach LaVine scored 10 points in the first half in his return from a one-game absence due to thumb soreness. He tweaked his ankle and was ruled out for the game.
Russell Westbrook collected eight points and 10 assists for the Kings, who have lost seven of their last eight games.
Schroder made a step-back jumper to trim Minnesota’s lead to 93-92 early in the fourth quarter before Hyland scored six points during the Timberwolves’ 14-3 run.
Keegan Murray sank a 3-pointer to pull Sacramento within six at 107-101 with 2:22 to play. Reid, however, halted the momentum after connecting from beyond the arc on the next possession.
Murray made a dunk to give Sacramento a 54-51 lead early in the third quarter before Minnesota responded with a 15-0 run. McDaniels, Randle and DiVincenzo each sank a 3-pointer to highlight the run.
The Kings, however, closed within four points at 88-84 after DeRozan drained a jumper with 3.7 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
–Field Level Media
