It wasn’t just the throwback court or the classic black tree uniforms that made the night memorable. Anthony Edwards, a consistent presence for the Minnesota Timberwolves, sat on the bench out of uniform for most of the game. Edwards, who has never played fewer than 72 games in a season, exited after only three minutes in the first quarter due to what the team described as right hamstring tightness.
After heading to the locker room, Edwards reemerged in a sweatsuit and sunglasses to sit on the bench. Despite his early exit, the Wolves received valuable contributions from across the roster to fill the gap in a hard-fought 114-110 victory.
Julius Randle led the way, picking up the scoring load with 31 points and adding six assists. Rudy Gobert contributed a dominant performance with 14 points and 18 rebounds, shooting an efficient 6-for-7 from the field. Naz Reid bounced back from two difficult games on the road, posting 16 points and 10 rebounds.
The Wolves maintained a small lead for most of the night. Indiana pulled within 110-108 with 42.1 seconds left, but Jaden McDaniels got loose for a crucial layup that put the Wolves up by four with 20 seconds remaining — a lead that proved enough to seal the win.
Even though Indiana arrived shorthanded, missing key players such as Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, and T. J. McConnell, the Wolves anticipated a challenging game. The Pacers’ fast-paced style has historically given Minnesota fits, and last season they managed to win at Target Center despite being shorthanded themselves.
The situation became more complicated when Edwards left the game just over three minutes in due to hamstring tightness. Bones Hyland checked in for Indiana, and the Wolves leaned on Randle offensively. Randle had already scored 20 points in the first half on 7-for-11 shooting. Meanwhile, Pascal Siakam paced the Pacers with 16 points in the first half, which ended with the Wolves trailing 60-58.
In the third quarter, additional players stepped up for Minnesota. Gobert, who was nearly invisible offensively in Friday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, scored seven points and grabbed eight rebounds in the quarter. Donte DiVincenzo added six points as the Wolves extended their lead to 86-77 going into the fourth.
The Wolves’ new theater-style lighting made its debut in the season opener. Most of the crowd sat in relative darkness except for the first few rows, creating a more intimate atmosphere similar to the arenas of the New York Knicks and Lakers. Before the game, Coach Chris Finch joked that he didn’t expect players to struggle adjusting to the lighting, but quipped they might “only complain about it on the misses.”
Former Wolves owner Glen Taylor and his wife, Becky, were in their usual courtside seats near the Wolves bench. Although Taylor transferred team ownership to Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez in June, he retains, without charge, four courtside seats, one suite, and two reserved parking spaces for every Wolves and Lynx game as part of the 2021 purchase agreement.
Rob Dillingham did not play on Sunday after suffering a fractured nose in Friday’s game against the Lakers. Dillingham lasted under a minute before taking an elbow to the face. While he was a game-time decision earlier in the day, the team ultimately ruled him out for the contest. Coach Finch indicated that Dillingham’s absence may be short-lived.
Randle’s ability to adapt was crucial for the Wolves, helping them adjust to Edwards’ absence and maintain control against an undermanned but determined opponent. He excelled in both scoring and playmaking roles at different stages of the game.
The Wolves return to action Monday night at home, facing the Denver Nuggets on a back-to-back. The game is scheduled to tip off at 8:30 p.m. and will be the second game of a Peacock doubleheader.
https://www.startribune.com/takeaways-timberwolves-hold-off-pacers-in-home-opener-after-anthony-edwards-departs-early-due-to-injury/601461893