Timberwolves dominate Kings 117-103 without Anthony Edwards, powered by 24 points from Julius Randle
Julius Randle stepped up big with 24 points and nine rebounds to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a convincing 117-103 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night. This win came during the Timberwolves' second consecutive game missing their star guard Anthony Edwards, who remains sidelined due to right foot soreness.
Jaden McDaniels contributed a strong performance with 21 points, while Naz Reid added an impressive double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds. The Timberwolves, now 17-9 on the season, have been firing on all cylinders lately, winning seven of their last eight games. This victory also served as a bit of payback for Minnesota after they blew a 10-point lead late in regulation and lost 117-112 in overtime to the Kings on November 24 in Sacramento.
Meanwhile for the Kings, Donte DiVincenzo showed his versatility with 18 points, six assists, and four steals, and Bones Hyland chipped in 18 points in his second straight start filling in for the injured Edwards. Sacramento was also missing veteran point guard Mike Conley due to an Achilles injury. Rudy Gobert contributed 12 rebounds in just 20 minutes but exited early in the third quarter, with the team citing personal reasons.
DeMar DeRozan, Dennis Schroder, and Precious Achiuwa each scored 17 points in a tough night for Sacramento, who continue to struggle with a 6-20 record. They have endured 15 losses in their last 18 games, marking their worst winning percentage since the dismal 2008-09 season when they finished 17-65. Schroder had just returned from a hip injury but the Kings’ leading scorer Zach LaVine unfortunately left the game in the second quarter due to an ankle injury and did not return.
An interesting statistical note: the Timberwolves are remarkably dominant against teams with losing records, boasting a 14-1 record against such squads this season. Their only loss in that category came against the Kings during that late-collapse game in November. The teams have already met four times this season—out of just 26 games played so far—due to an unusual scheduling quirk, with Minnesota winning the season series 3-1.
The Kings started strong defensively, with Keegan Murray blocking a career-high five shots, disrupting the Wolves' rhythm in the first half. However, the Kings fell victim to two brutal scoring droughts—one a 14-0 run by Minnesota spilling into the second quarter, and later a 15-0 run in the third quarter—that ultimately swung momentum heavily in Minnesota's favor.
Looking ahead, the Kings will try to rebound when they head to Portland on Thursday night. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves will aim to continue their winning streak as they host Memphis on Wednesday night.
But here's where it gets controversial: With the Timberwolves performing so well even without Edwards, does this signal a deeper team strength that might surprise many who rely too heavily on their star guard’s presence? Or is this just a temporary boost before Edwards returns? Would you agree that Minnesota’s depth has been underestimated, or do you think the Kings’ ongoing struggles reflect broader issues beyond injuries? Sound off in the comments—what’s your take?
