Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes, left, tries to get a hook shot over Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards at the Target Center in Minneapolis on Wed Nov 17, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Wed, November 17, 2021

Offensive firepower from Anthony Edwards and Ksrl-Anthony Towns, along with stingy defense, helped Minnesota defeat Sacramento 107-97 Wednesday night at Target Center in downtown Minneapolis.

It was the Kings’ fifth loss in their last six games.

Edwards scored 16 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, and Towns added 22 points for the Timberwolves, who held the Kings to 36.6 percent shooting and forced 20 Sacramento turnovers.

Patrick Beverley added 14 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Wolves, who had lost eight of its last nine games. Edwards sank four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, laading Minnesota to its third win in 10 home games.

De’Aaron Fox paced the Kings with a game-high 28 points, followed by Buddy Hield’s 16 points off the bench. Richaun Holmes added 12 points and seven rebounds.

Sacramento coach Luke Walton wanted better rebounding and got it – the Kings grabbed a season-high 20 offensive boards, 13 of them in the first half resulting in 16 second-chance points.

Though both teams struggled offensively in the first half, Minnesota surged ahead in the third quarter when Towns scored the first seven points of the third quarter, sparking a 10-2 Wolves run. From there, Minnesota hit 13-of-20 field goals, including 4-pf-7 from 3-point range.

Hield tried to keep the Kings in the game with four 3s to pull Sacramento within one early in the fourth quarter. But Edwards went on his fourth-quarter tear to help the Timberwolves pull away.

The Kings return home on Friday to host the Toronto Raptors.