Timberwolves pull away from Magic, inspired by another splashy Anthony Edwards moment

Chris Hine, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Jan 9, 2025

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ORLANDO, Fla. — Put another dunk on Anthony Edwards’ highlight reel.

In the third quarter of the Timberwolves’ 104-89 victory over the short-handed Magic on Thursday, Edwards took flight from the left side of the lane as Orlando’s Anthony Black came over to defend.

Black was unsure whether he wanted to challenge Edwards or get out of the way of what was about to happen. Edwards climbed over him, threw down another monster jam and completed a three-point play to provide a jolt that got the Wolves to the finish line. Before Edwards’ dunk, the Wolves were going through the motions in the third quarter against an Orlando team that was without several key contributors, including franchise player Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs.

The Wolves were leading by single digits before Edwards’ dunk; they were up 16 by the end of the third quarter. That marked their largest lead of the game to that point. Edwards had an otherwise tough night scoring — that dunk was his only made 2-pointer — as he went 5 for 19 for 21 points. He did have seven assists and was 7 for 9 from the foul line. Julius Randle had a strong night with 23 points and 10 rebounds while reserve Naz Reid had 16. Goga Bitadze led Orlando with 15. The Wolves held the Magic to 38.4% shooting.

Strong opening

For the second time in as many games, the new starting lineup featuring Donte DiVincenzo in for Mike Conley got the Wolves off to a good start. The Wolves hit eight of their first 10 shots, with Edwards hitting his first three 3-pointers. Minnesota led 18-11 before coach Chris Finch started getting into his bench.

While the bench struggled to score (4 for 10), it put the clamps on Orlando defensively. The Magic opened the game shooting 7 for 22 with four turnovers. That added up to a 29-18 Wolves lead after one quarter. Randle had nine points in the opening quarter, while Reid added seven.

Magic claw back in it, momentarily

Orlando erased the Wolves’ double-digit lead with a 14-4 run that tied the score at 37. The Wolves went nearly five minutes without a point as Edwards missed his next three 3-point attempts and DiVincenzo opened 1 for 5.

But then Finch rotated the old starting lineup back onto the floor late in the quarter, and that unit led a strong quarter-ending run. Conley scored seven points over a 15-2 Wolves run over the last 4:13. The Wolves led 52-39 at halftime. Rudy Gobert pitched in seven rebounds in the half, and Jaden had five. The Wolves held Orlando to 35% shooting and 3 for 16 from 3-point range.

Another Edwards highlight

In the third quarter, with the Wolves just kind of sleepwalking while maintaining a small lead, Edwards woke up everyone in the arena. A shudder went through the crowd, like it did the night Edwards posterized John Collins in Utah last season, as it processed what it had just seen. Edwards flexed for the cameras after his dunk, made the free throw and his team wrested control for the rest of the evening. The Wolves kept the Magic at arms length in the fourth quarter.