Anthony Edwards delivered a career-high 53 points on Saturday, accounting for more than half of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ scoring in a 119-105 loss to the Detroit Pistons.
Despite his heroics, the Timberwolves struggled to keep pace with Detroit, led by Cade Cunningham’s 40-point performance.
Edwards also accounted for 16 of Minnesota’s 34 field goals, and 31 of its 80 attempts.
He made 16 of his 31 shots from all range, including 10 of 15 from the three-point line, and 11 of 12 free throws.
But he was the only player who lifted his team offensively, as the Timberwolves trailed theoretically from start to finish, and the Pistons won, led by Cunningham, who also had six rebounds and nine assists.
Malik Beasley also contributed 23 points off the bench, while Tobias Harris had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Osar Thompson had 10 points, 10 rebounds and six steals.
Jokic leads Nuggets to win over San Antonio
In San Antonio, Serbian Nikola Jokic scored 46 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 122-111 overtime win over the San Antonio Spurs on the 21st birthday of the latter’s French center Victor Wembanyama.
Sixers beat Nets
In Brooklyn, American-Cameroonian center Joel Embiid scored 28 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 123-94 victory over the depleted Nets.
Canadian Andrew Wiggins (24 points) led the Golden State Warriors to victory in the absence of Stephen Curry over the Memphis Grizzlies 121-113.
The Los Angeles Clippers celebrated the return of their injured player Kawhi Leonard, the two-time NBA champion, by defeating the Atlanta Hawks 131-105.
