Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle combined for 65 points, leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to a thrilling 117-115 victory over the Sacramento Kings in their season opener.
In a dramatic finish, Edwards secured the win by sinking two free throws with just 2.4 seconds left on the clock after being fouled by Domantas Sabonis, finishing the night with 32 points. The Kings had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer, but Keegan Murray’s three-point shot bounced off the rim.
Randle had a standout performance, scoring 33 points in just his second game with the Timberwolves, following a trade from New York earlier this month. Meanwhile, DeMar DeRozan made an impressive debut for the Kings with 26 points, while Sabonis contributed 24 points and Murray added 23.
The Timberwolves left California with a split record, recovering from a loss against the Lakers earlier in the week. Randle showed a more aggressive approach in this game compared to his previous outing, where he only attempted 10 shots.
Sacramento’s struggles in season openers continued, marking their sixth consecutive loss at home during the opening game of the season, with the last victory recorded in 2013 against Denver.
A pivotal moment in the game came when Edwards and Naz Reid drained consecutive three-pointers, igniting an 11-0 run that shifted the momentum and gave Minnesota a 105-99 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
In terms of shooting performance, the Timberwolves improved significantly from their previous game, hitting 20 of 50 three-point attempts after shooting just 13 for 41 against the Lakers. The total of 91 three-point attempts over their first two games is a franchise record for Minnesota.
Looking ahead, the Timberwolves will host the Toronto Raptors for their home opener on Saturday, while the Kings will head to Los Angeles to take on the Lakers.