LOS ANGELES: Anthony Edwards condemned the Dallas Mavericks to a 10th consecutive loss – their worst slump since 1998 – scoring 40 points in an ultimately convincing win Friday for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Fresh from winning MVP at last weekend’s All-Star Game in Los Angeles, Edwards also managed six rebounds, while Rudy Gobert scored a double-double, with 22 points and 17 rebounds.
Down by 18 points in the second quarter, the ailing Mavericks had nearly pulled off an improbable comeback. Dallas showed resilience to draw level at 103-103 with just under seven minutes to go, only for Edwards to take the game away from them again, with a final score of 122-111. “We take pride in being able to win clutch games,” said Edwards. “We struggled with that last year.” “We came out aggressive in the start, but it ended up going flat for us, and they found a run. “Basketball is a game of runs, and they played real hard. So big shout out to those guys.”
Fourteen of Edwards’ points came in the final quarter. For the Wolves it was an eighth win in 11 games, sitting fifth in the Western Conference. For Dallas, a 10th straight loss leaves the Mavericks marooned in 12th in the Western Conference, and outside of playoff contention. Their rookie teen phenom Cooper Flagg did not play, suffering a foot injury. Elsewhere the Oklahoma City Thunder stormed back from the NBA All-Star Game break with a 105-86 win over the lowly Brooklyn Nets, consolidating their lead at the top of the Western Conference.
Having not played since last Thursday, the Thunder were still without reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with an abdominal strain, and star guard-forward Jalen Williams. But the defending NBA champions have the best defense in the league, and showed their strength in depth, with half of their points coming from the bench. Jared McCain, traded from the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this month, top-scored with 21 points, and praised the Thunder’s “chemistry.” “Me coming in, just trying to learn the defensive principles… there’s a reason why they’re so good at it,” he said.
LA derby
The Cleveland Cavaliers won their seventh game on the trot, beating the Charlotte Hornets 118-113. It extended a joint league-best hot streak that has gathered pace since the signing of former MVP James Harden earlier this month. Harden, the NBA veteran known as “The Beard,” scored 18 points Friday, but was outshone by Donovan Mitchell’s 32, and Jarrett Allen, who managed 26 points plus 14 rebounds.
Later Friday, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated their local rivals the Clippers in an intense derby 125-122. Luka Doncic scored 38 points with six rebounds and 11 assists, well supported by LeBron James, with 13 points and 11 assists. Nikola Jokic poured in 32 points as the Denver Nuggets handed the Portland Trail Blazers a resounding 157-103 defeat. The 54-points margin was the second-largest victory in Nuggets franchise history. — AFP
