The Minnesota Timberwolves secured a victory over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night, but not without losing two key players early in the game. Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo both exited prematurely due to injuries, leaving the team to finish the contest shorthanded.
Edwards, the Timberwolves' leading scorer, left the game in the second quarter after suffering a right ankle sprain. He had 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists in 15 minutes before the injury. DiVincenzo departed in the third quarter with a left hamstring strain, contributing 7 points and 4 assists up to that point.
Despite the absences, Minnesota showed resilience and depth, pulling away in the fourth quarter for a 115-105 win. Karl-Anthony Towns led the charge with 28 points and 11 rebounds, while Rudy Gobert added 18 points and 14 rebounds. The Timberwolves improved to 22-9 on the season, solidifying their top spot in the Western Conference.
"It's tough losing two guys, especially Anthony and Donte, but our guys stepped up," said Timberwolves coach Chris Finch. "We have a next-man-up mentality, and tonight it paid off."
The Nuggets, who were without star center Nikola Jokic due to a hip injury, struggled to find consistency. Jamal Murray scored 24 points, and Michael Porter Jr. added 22, but Denver couldn't contain Minnesota's balanced attack.
The Timberwolves will await further evaluation on Edwards and DiVincenzo as they prepare for their next game against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.