Minnesota Timberwolves ahead Karl-Anthony Cities, proper, tries to work previous Indiana Pacers ahead Obi Toppin, left, within the first quarter of an NBA basketball sport Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photograph/Bruce Kluckhohn)

MINNEAPOLIS — Karl-Anthony Cities scored a season-high 40 factors and grabbed 12 rebounds, Anthony Edwards added 37 factors and the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled away within the second half to dominate the shorthanded Indiana Pacers 127-109 on Saturday night time within the NBA.

Naz Reid added 17 factors and Kyle Anderson had 10 assists for Minnesota, now 11-1 at house and tied with Boston for the league’s finest report at 19-5.

Cities had his highest scoring whole since a career-best 60 factors March 14, 2022. Edwards completed one level shy of his season excessive. The pair mixed for 54 of the Wolves’ first 75 factors: 27 apiece.

Ant Edwards and KAT went to WORK within the Timberwolves W 🔥

Ant: 37 PTS, 4 AST, 7 3PM
KAT: 40 PTS, 12 REB, 4 AST pic.twitter.com/yHXOq71lkU

— NBA (@NBA) December 17, 2023

“He’s been like that since I’ve been right here,” Edwards stated of Cities. “He’s at all times been environment friendly, will get us factors. Tries to do every part he can to assist us win. He’s at all times been like that. It’s not spectacular to me, I’m used to seeing it. That’s KAT.”

Minnesota shot a season-high 55.8% from the sphere, together with a season-best 60% with a season-high 18 makes from outdoors the arc.

“This is among the finest groups on the planet,” stated Indiana coach Rick Carlisle. “… It’s expertise to battle these guys. Our younger guys bought some nice expertise tonight.”

Bruce Brown and Aaron Nesmith scored 17 factors for the Pacers. Miles Turner, T.J. McConnell and Isaiah Jackson additionally scored in double figures as Indiana shot 50% however misplaced three in a row for the primary time this season.

Taking part in its third street sport in 4 nights and fourth in six, Indiana was with out prime scorer Tyrese Haliburton, who sustained a bruised left knee Friday in a 137-123 loss at Washington. Moreover, the Pacers didn’t arrive in Minnesota till Saturday afternoon after plane mechanical points compelled them to remain in Washington on Friday night time.

“No excuses,” Brown stated. “I’m simply joyful to go house.”

The workforce’s main scorer at 25.7 factors per sport and league chief in assists with 12 per sport, Haliburton is capturing 51.5% from the sphere and 43.5% from 3-point vary. Carlisle didn’t present a timetable on how lengthy Haliburton can be out.

Cities had 20 factors halfway by means of the second quarter, however the balanced Indiana assault had the Pacers up by six earlier than Edwards took over.

He scored 14 of his 18 second-quarter factors within the ultimate 4 minutes, together with a quartet of 3s and a reverse layup within the ultimate seconds for a 57-55 intermission lead.

Edwards had simply 9 factors on 3-for-19 capturing and 0-for-3 from deep in Thursday’s 119-101 win at Dallas.

Two 3-pointers apiece by Reid and Troy Brown Jr. sandwiched round Rudy Gobert’s block of Nesmith’s layup try highlighted a 12-4 surge to place Minnesota up 87-71 halfway by means of the third quarter. A 3-point play by Cities within the quarter’s ultimate minute pushed the result in 19.

Minnesota outscored Indiana 39-23 within the 12 minutes. The Timberwolves entered the sport permitting a league-low 105.7 factors.

“Our protection did job getting us into this sport tonight. Offensively, it’s nice to hit some photographs, however with the ability to fall again on our id and our requirements defensively discovered our solution to the win,” Cities stated.

Minnesota beginning ahead Jaden McDaniels left the sport with a bruised tailbone.

UP NEXT

Pacers: Dwelling towards the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.

Timberwolves: At Miami on Monday.