Anthony Edwards admitted he still doesn’t fully grasp the NBA Cup format despite Minnesota’s 137–97 victory over the Utah Jazz on Friday.
“We didn’t really understand the rules and stuff but… I still don’t understand the rules, I really don’t care,” Edwards said, via HoopsHype, emphasizing that winning matters more than the structure of the competition.
The Timberwolves improved to 4–5 overall in the 2025-26 season with a dominant performance at Target Center. Edwards returned from a four-game absence with a hamstring strain and erupted for 37 points, shooting 7-of-12 from three-point range.
Julius Randle nearly recorded a first-half triple-double, finishing with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists, marking his second triple-double of the week. Jaden McDaniels added 22 points and seven rebounds as Minnesota shot a season-high 56.8% from the field.
The Timberwolves jumped out to a 43–15 lead in the first quarter, fueled by Edwards’ early barrage of two three-pointers and a step-back jumper in the opening 90 seconds. Minnesota extended the advantage to 79–45 by halftime and never looked back.
Utah struggled offensively, shooting just 37.2% from the floor, with Keyonte George leading the team with 18 points and Lauri Markkanen contributing 12. Isaiah Collier returned from an eight-game hamstring absence but could not spark the Jazz’s offense.
Edwards’ focus on winning aligns with the Timberwolves’ motivation for the inaugural NBA Cup. “Julius brought us together a couple practices ago and was like, man, let’s try to win this year,” Edwards explained, highlighting the team’s internal drive despite limited understanding of the tournament rules.
This was Minnesota’s first NBA Cup game, while Utah fell to 0–2 in Western Conference Group A, which also includes Phoenix, Oklahoma City, and Sacramento. The Timberwolves will face Sacramento on Sunday and host a rematch against Utah on Monday, keeping momentum from the blowout alive.
