MINNESOTA Timberwolves secured their place in the post-season with a 116-105 victory over Utah Jazz at the close of the regular season of the 2024-25 NBA Season on Sunday night (Monday in the Philippines) at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Anthony Edwards spearheaded the offense with 43 points, including seven three-pointers, to go with six rebounds, five assists, three steals, and a block as the Timberwolves clinched the No. 6 seed in Western Conference with a 49-33 record.
Edwards was allowed to play in the regular-season finale after the NBA rescinded his 18th technical foul — and the accompanying automatic one-game suspension — that he had been assessed on Friday against Brooklyn Nets.
Edwards took full advantage of the opportunity, exploding for 18 points in the decisive third quarter, allowing them to create the much-needed separation against the also-ran Jazz.
Rudy Gobert contributed a double-double of 19 points and 18 rebounds, Donte DiVincenzo added 16 points and Julius Randle had 10 points, 10 boards and five assists for the Timberwolves, which will face No. 3 seed Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of playoffs.
Brice Sensabaugh scored 22 points, Keyonte George finished with 14 points, seven assists and five boards as the Jazz (17-65) finished the season with the NBA’s worst record.
Washington Wizards (18-64) avoided a last-place finish in the 30-team field after a 119-118 upset win against Miami Heat (37-45), courtesy of a buzzer-beating basket from Carlton Carrington.
Meanwhile, two-way player RayJ Dennis scored seven straight points in the second overtime as the fourth-place Indiana Pacers rallied from 27 down to beat the first place Cleveland Cavaliers, 126-118, in Cleveland.
Rookie Johnny Furphy added six points in the second extra period for the Pacers (50-32), who reached 50 wins for the first time since 2013-2014. He ended the match with 15 markers.
Quenton Jackson led Indiana with 21 points, Tony Bradley collected 14 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks, Dennis contributed 13 points, while Jarace Walker and Aaron Nesmith had 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Rookie Jaylon Tyson scored a career-high 31 points, Emoni Bates had a career-best 25 points and Nae’Qwan Tomlin had 24 points and 12 rebounds for Cleveland, which ended on top of the East with a 64-18 record./PN
