ORLANDO, FL (AP) – Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell each scored 27 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves built a 30-point halftime lead, led by 43 in the third quarter and cruised to a 128-96 rout of the Orlando Magic on Sunday night.
Rookie guard Anthony Edwards added 16 points and 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season to help the Timberwolves end a three-game losing streak. Ricky Rubio added 18 points for Minnesota, which made 16 3s and shot 48.5%.
”Winning is a lot more fun and when you’re having fun it’s a lot easier to reinforce what you’ve been trying to sell,” said Minnesota coach Chris Finch, whose team improved to 11-13 in its past 24 games. ”The guys can see it working, they’re buying in and doing things to make themselves and their teammates better.”
Russell also had eight assists, six rebounds and five made 3s. The point guard said as the chemistry between himself, Towns and Edwards continues to grow, the Timberwolves could blossom into a playoff contender by next season.
”As a team, we know what (rebuilding) felt like, so now any time we get a lead we’re trying to learn how to step on people’s throats and give our fans a taste of what next season is going to look like,” Russell said.
Orlando dressed 10 players, but only after signing former G League player Donta Hall. R.J. Hampton scored a career-high 19 points off the bench for the Magic. They finished the home schedule 11-25 and won just once at Amway Center after trading away Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier, Aaron Gordon and others on March 25.
Towns, Russell and Edwards combined for 51 points and seven 3-pointers in the first half as the Timberwolves smashed the Magic to the tune of a 74-44 lead at intermission. Towns had 20 points by halftime, while Russell poured in four 3s and 19 points.
The Timberwolves pushed its lead to 89-49 on a Rubio 3 with 7:54 left in the third period. Thirty seconds later it was at 43 when Minnesota capped an 18-5 burst.
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