Timberwolves secure playoff spot with 116-105 win over Jazz behind 43 points from Anthony Edwards
MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Anthony Edwards exploded for 43 points, including 18 in a dominant third quarter, to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 116–105 win over the Utah Jazz on Sunday. The victory clinched a playoff spot for Minnesota, allowing them to bypass the play-in tournament altogether.
Rudy Gobert contributed a massive double-double with 19 points and 18 rebounds, while Donte DiVincenzo added 16 points. With a final record of 49–33, the Timberwolves secured the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference and will face the third-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs.
Edwards was nearly suspended for Sunday’s game due to a technical foul on Friday that would have given him a league-high 18 for the season. However, after review, the NBA rescinded the penalty. Edwards responded by drilling 7 of 18 from beyond the arc, bringing his season total to an NBA-best 320 made three-pointers—just edging out Detroit’s Malik Beasley, his former teammate.
Utah’s Brice Sensabaugh led his team with 22 points in the season finale. The Jazz ended their season with a 17–65 record—the worst in the NBA and the lowest in franchise history by six games. The Jazz rested 10 players in their final game, and a buzzer-beating win by Washington over Miami ensured Utah finished alone at the bottom of the standings, giving them the best odds (14%) at landing the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft lottery on May 12.
Minnesota trailed late in the first half before a key defensive play turned momentum. Nickeil Alexander-Walker intercepted a pass in the backcourt, igniting a fast break capped off by a Rudy Gobert dunk to give the Timberwolves a 50–49 halftime lead.
With a 17–4 record since early March—third-best in the NBA behind only Boston and Oklahoma City—the Timberwolves enter the playoffs healthy, hot, and confident.
What’s Next:
The Jazz now look ahead to the draft lottery, hoping for a top pick to kickstart their rebuild. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves gear up for their opening playoff matchup in Los Angeles this coming weekend.
