Anthony Edwards exploded for 37 points and buried a crucial three-pointer in the final seconds to secure the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 114-109 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night.
The victory gave the Timberwolves their fifth straight win and lifted them to 46-32 on the season, keeping them in the mix for a top-six seed in the Western Conference.
Rudy Gobert added 23 points and 19 rebounds on 10-for-11 shooting, anchoring Minnesota on both ends of the floor as the team held off a spirited effort by a depleted Philadelphia squad.
Julius Randle scored 15 points and Donte DiVincenzo chipped in 13 off the bench as the Timberwolves won for the sixth time in their last seven games.
The 76ers, who were without eight players including All-Stars Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George, dropped their 11th straight game and fell to 23-55 on the year.
Despite the absences, Philadelphia nearly pulled off the upset after trimming a seven-point deficit to just 111-109 with under 15 seconds remaining.
Edwards then faced a double-team on the perimeter and launched a deep three as the shot clock expired, draining it to put Minnesota ahead by five.
On the final possession, Guerschon Yabusele missed a three-point attempt and Edwards corralled the rebound to seal the win.
Yabusele finished with 19 points and 4 assists in 37 minutes, while Quentin Grimes led Philadelphia with 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting, including 6-of-10 from beyond the arc.
Lonnie Walker IV had 18 points and Jared Butler added 16 and 8 assists, but the Sixers failed to close the gap in the closing moments.
Philadelphia’s losing streak now matches the 15th-longest in franchise history and is their worst since dropping 12 in a row in 2016.
The Sixers shot 48.4 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from three-point range but managed only nine free throws and were out-rebounded 47-34.
Minnesota committed 15 turnovers and missed eight free throws, allowing Philadelphia to stay close despite being heavily short-handed.
Gobert dominated the paint with eight offensive rebounds, while Naz Reid added nine points and seven boards off the bench for the Timberwolves.
Mike Conley contributed eight points, four assists, and helped space the floor with a pair of three-pointers.
