Anthony Edwards scores 41 as the Timberwolves beat struggling Wizards 120-106

WASHINGTON (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 20 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter and the Minnesota Timberwolves overcome a sloppy first half and beat the NBA-worst Washington Wizards 120-106 on Monday night.

Earlier Monday, Edwards was fined $50,000 by the NBA for an obscene gesture directed at an official in Saturday's loss in Memphis.

Edwards, a two-time All-Star, had a strong final period, shooting 6 for 11 from the floor and 3 for 5 from 3-point range to turn what had been a tight contest into a comfortable win.

Julius Randle added 20 points and 10 rebounds and Rudy Gobert had 11 points and 11 rebounds for Minnesota, which committed 13 turnovers in the first half and briefly trailed the Wizards in the third quarter.

Kyle Kuzma scored 22 points and and Jordan Poole added 20 in Washington's seventh straight loss.

Timberwolves: This was not the cleanest performance, but it was a fourth win in five games and third consecutive road victory. And, the offense improved when it mattered most, turning the ball over only six times after the break.

Wizards: A strong 3-point shooting game hints at what rebuilding Washington hopes to be in the future. They finished shooting 42.5% from beyond the arc (17 of 40), with all five starters sinking at least two 3s.

Edwards hit a reverse layup and fed Nickeil Alexander-Walker for a baseline 3 on consecutive possessions to start a 16-2 game-deciding run midway through the fourth quarter. Later in the run, he danced his way into a timeout after sinking a deep 3 from the right wing.

Minnesota more than doubled up Washington in free throw attempts, 31-15.

The Timberwolves return home against Golden State on Wednesday, while the Wizards host Phoenix on Thursday.

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Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, right, reacts with guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9) after Alexander-Walker made a 3-point basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Wizards forward Alexandre Sarr dunks during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Wizards forward Alexandre Sarr, left, falls after being fouled by Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards loses his grip on the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, left, goes to the basket as he is fouled by Washington Wizards forward Justin Champagnie (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) dribbles the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) goes to the basket past Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) goes to the basket as he is fouled by Washington Wizards forward Alex Sarr (20) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, right, dunks over Washington Wizards forward Alex Sarr (20) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) drives against Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) looks to pass the ball against Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington, center right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

NUUK, Greenland (AP) — For several weeks, international journalists and camera crews have been scurrying up to people in Greenland's capital to ask them for their thoughts on the twists and turns of a political crisis that has turned the Arctic island into a geopolitical hot spot.

President Donald Trump insists he wants to control Greenland but Greenlanders say it is not for sale. The island is a semiautonomous territory of Denmark and the prime minister of that country has warned that if the U.S. tries to take Greenland by force, it could potentially spell the end of NATO.

Greenlanders walking along the small central shopping street of the capital Nuuk have a hard time avoiding the signs that the island is near the top of the Western news agenda.

Scores of journalists have arrived from outlets including The Associated Press, Reuters, CNN, the BBC and Al Jazeera as well as from Scandinavian countries and Japan.

They film Nuuk's multicolored houses, the snowcapped hills and the freezing fjords where locals go out in small boats to hunt seals and fish. But they must try to cram their filming into about five hours of daylight — the island is in the far north and the sun rises after 11 a.m. and sets around 4 p.m.

Along the quiet shopping street, journalists stand every few meters (feet), approaching locals for their thoughts, doing live broadcasts or recording stand-ups.

Local politicians and community leaders say they are overwhelmed with interview requests.

Juno Berthelsen, MP for the Naleraq opposition party that campaigns for independence in the Greenlandic parliament, called the media attention “round two,” referring to an earlier burst of global interest following Trump's first statements in 2025 that he wanted to control Greenland.

Trump has argued repeatedly that the U.S. needs control of Greenland for its national security. He has sought to justify his calls for a U.S. takeover by repeatedly claiming that China and Russia have their own designs on Greenland, which holds vast untapped reserves of critical minerals.

Berthelsen said he has done multiple interviews a day for two weeks.

“I'm getting a bit used to it,” he said.

Greenland's population is around 57,000 people —- about 20,000 of whom live in Nuuk.

“We’re very few people and people tend to get tired when more and more journalists ask the same questions again and again,” Berthelsen said.

Nuuk is so small that the same business owners are approached repeatedly by different news organizations — sometimes doing up to 14 interviews a day.

Locals who spoke to the AP said they want the world to know that it's up to Greenlanders to decide their own future and suggested they are perplexed at Trump's desire to control the island.

“It’s just weird how obsessed he is with Greenland,” said Maya Martinsen, 21.

She said Trump is “basically lying about what he wants out of Greenland,” and is using the pretext of boosting American security as a way to try to take control of “the oils and minerals that we have that are untouched.”

The Americans, Martinsen said, “only see what they can get out of Greenland and not what it actually is.”

To Greenlanders, she said, “it's home.”

“It has beautiful nature and lovely people. It’s just home to me. I think the Americans just see some kind of business trade.”

Kwiyeon Ha contributed to this report.

A journalist films in Nuuk, Greenland, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Burrows)

An AP journalist films people sitting by the sea in Nuuk, Greenland, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Burrows)

A journalist conducts an interview in Nuuk, Greenland, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Burrows)