SALT LAKE CITY ( Associated Press) — Anthony Edwards scored 31 points and Jaylen Nowell added a career-high 30 as the Minnesota Timberwolves routed the Utah Jazz 143-118 on Wednesday night.
The two teams faced each other on a night in which information emerged that the Wolves, Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers had agreed to a trade that included eight players before the end of the offseason to complete these deals. .
Even without stepping on the accelerator, the Wolves set a season high by scoring 79 points in the first half. They already led 107–80 at the halfway point of the third period, hitting 64% of their shots from the field, including 61% of their 3-pointers.
Luke Garza tied his career best with 25 points and the Timberwolves made 23 triples. Thus he matched his highest production of the season.
The trade between the three teams was confirmed to The Associated Press by a person familiar with the situation, who requested anonymity because the teams had not announced major deals.
This Thursday is the deadline to exchange.
Through the agreement, the Wolves sent D’Angelo Russell to the Lakers, where he played his first two seasons in the NBA (2015–17). Utah traded Nichelle Alexander-Walker and Mike Conley to Minnesota and got rid of Jared Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley, who would now join the Lakers.
The Jazz welcomed back Russell Westbrook, Juan Toscano-Anderson and Damian Jones from the Lakers, as well as a first-round pick in the 2027 draft.
