Timberwolves top Memphis after moment of silence for Nichols

MINNEAPOLIS(AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 13 of his 25 points in the thirdquarter as Minnesota extended its lead, D’Angelo Russell added 19points and the Timberwolves topped the short-handed MemphisGrizzlies 111-100 on Friday night.

The Grizzliestook the court minutes after videofootage was released of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols being beaten byMemphis police officers.

There was amoment of silence prior to the game but no demonstration by theGrizzlies or Timberwolves.Bothteams offered thoughts to Nichols’ family and friendsinmessages tweeted before the video was released.

“There’s wayharder things going on in the city versus what’s going on with ourbasketball right now,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. “I’mproud of our guys going out there. As I said before the game, we’replaying with heavy hearts, but we’re also playing for our citythat’s going through a lot right now.”

“So, it’shard, but our guys went out there and competed. I told them thelast two games, as we’ve been talking about everything that’s beengoing on in Memphis with the tragedy to Tyre Nichols, we’ve beenstaying together.”

Jenkins saidhe had not watched the video footage of the incident when speakingafter the game and didn’t think the team had a chance to watchbefore the game. The Memphis locker room was closed to media afterthe game and no players were made available.

Kyle Andersonhad 23 points for Minnesota, which has won four of five. NathanKnight added 10 points off the bench. The Timberwolves scored 58points in the paint

“I thought wewere pretty decisive, drawing a crowd and then making the rightplay,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said. “They were pretty heavy inthe gaps and do a good job of having multiple bodies at the rim.So, I thought we generated a lot of really, really good looks.”

Ja Morant had27 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for Memphis. Dillon Brooksscored 17 for the Grizzlies.

Minnesotaestablished a double-digit lead in the first quarter and made itstand. Memphis’ only lead was 7-6.

Edwards hadeight points during a 12-4 run in the third to give theTimberwolves a game-high 17-point lead.

“I’m notworried, I know it’s going to come,” Edwards said. “I’m going tokeep making the right play until they loosen up, and then when theyloosen up, that’s when I’m going to go. And that’s what I didtonight.”

PRAISE FORANT

Edwards camein averaging 27.8 points, 5 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.8 stealsper game over his previous 10 games. He’s scored at least 20 pointsin 10 of his last 11 games.

Anderson toldthe Target Center crowd after the game that Edwards could be in theMVP conversation every season.

“He’s playingas an All-Star starter, like and All-Star starter right now, likeone of the best 10 players in the league these last few games,”Anderson said later in the locker room. “He’s shown it. And he hasa higher ceiling, a lot more room to grow, it’s scary.”

ROUGHTRIP

Memphisfinished its season-long road trip 0-5 during which it lost StevenAdams, Desmond Bane and John Konchar to injuries. Three of thelosses were by a combined five points, but there was also a33-point loss at Sacramento and Friday’s showing at Minnesota.

“I called itthe road trip of revelations,” Jenkins said. “We’re just learning alot about ourselves, meat of the season. Told the guys at the endof the game, we’ve put ourselves in a still really good spot. We’vegot 30-plus games left and this happens during a season where youhave ups and downs.”

TIP-INS

Grizzlies:Bane, who’s second on the team with 21.6 points per game, was heldout with right knee soreness. Adams (right knee PCL sprain) missedhis third straight game. Konchar (concussion protocol) was out forthe second straight game. … Ziaire Williams started for Bane andhad seven points.

Timberwolves:Taurean Prince missed his third straight game with a left anklesprain. … Minnesota had 20 turnovers leading to 21 points for theGrizzlies. The Timberwolves scored 12 points on Memphis’ 21turnovers.