NBA: Short-handed Timberwolves make quick work of Bucks

Even without Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, the Minnesota Timberwolves cruised past the host Milwaukee Bucks 139-106 on Tuesday, led by 29 points from Julius Randle.

Bones Hyland contributed 23 points, while Naz Reid added 19. Randle also recorded eight rebounds and six assists in the convincing win, Minnesota’s sixth in seven games.

Edwards sat out for right foot injury maintenance, and Gobert served a one-game suspension after accumulating his sixth flagrant foul in Minnesota’s previous game.

Milwaukee, missing Myles Turner due to illness, struggled in its return from a 2-2 road trip. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds. Bobby Portis, starting for Turner, added 14 points, while Kevin Porter Jr. posted 13 points and eight assists.

Minnesota set the tone early, winning the first quarter 38-20. Jaden McDaniels scored 14 points in the opening period, going 4-for-4 from three-point range as the Timberwolves made eight of 13 from beyond the arc. The hot shooting continued in the second quarter, and Minnesota went into halftime with a commanding 76-45 lead. Randle had 24 points at the break, while Antetokounmpo paced Milwaukee with 15.

The Bucks made a push in the third quarter, trimming the deficit to 18 at one point, but the Timberwolves never wavered from long range. Minnesota finished the night shooting 22-for-42 (52.4%) from three-point range and 59.8% overall, while forcing 20 turnovers that led to 28 points.

With the win, Minnesota swept the two-game season series against its border rival for the first time since the 2021-22 season, bringing the all-time series to an even 36-36.

—Field Level Media/Reuters