MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Sacramento Kings leading scorer Zach LaVine injured his left ankle midway through the second quarter on Sunday against Minnesota and was ruled out for the rest of the game, a 117-103 victory for the Timberwolves.
LaVine landed awkwardly on his left foot during a drive into the lane, when he got his flip shot to fall, drew a foul and converted the three-point play. The 12th-year veteran guard, who is averaging 20.6 points per game, remained on the floor for about three more minutes while moving around gingerly before he was removed and went to the locker room for evaluation.
The Kings have been without three-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis for nearly a month because of a partially torn meniscus in his left knee, and center Drew Eubanks suffered a broken left thumb in Sacramento's previous game at Denver on Thursday.
Veteran point guard Dennis Schroder returned to the Kings on Sunday after a seven-game absence because of a hip injury. LaVine had just returned from a thumb injury that kept him out of the previous game at Denver.
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Sacramento Kings guard Zach Lavine, front left, works around Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte Divincenzo, back left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves were missing star Anthony Edwards again.
Their poise was present and accounted for.
With Edwards absent for the second straight game on Sunday with soreness in his right foot, his teammates picked up the slack after a sluggish start — and delivered another steely performance down the stretch on the way to a 117-103 victory over Sacramento.
The Timberwolves outscored the Kings 29-19 over the final 12 minutes, a league-leading eighth time this season they've had a 10-plus-point advantage in the fourth quarter.
“I think our composure down the stretch has gotten a lot better. Our ability to make the right read — and certainly shot making — has helped in those moments,” coach Chris Finch said.
The Timberwolves (17-9), who have won seven of their last eight games, exacted a measure of revenge for their 117-112 overtime loss at Sacramento on Nov. 24 when they blew a 10-point lead with less than three minutes remaining in regulation.
That game came three nights after they fumbled an eight-point lead with 49 seconds left at Phoenix and lost 114-113.
“We talked about how we need to be better in closing games and the themes that popped up,” Finch said, “and guys have done a good job of addressing that.”
Edwards has been considered day-to-day with his availability. Finch said before the game the injury “hasn't calmed down to the point where he's able to go.”
Backup point guard Mike Conley was also sidelined on Sunday, the 19-year veteran's second straight absence due to a right Achilles tendon injury. The short-handed backcourt meant another start for Bones Hyland, who has recently worked his way into a more meaningful role. Then center Rudy Gobert left the game midway through the third quarter for what the team announced as personal reasons.
The absence of the four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year award winner down the stretch forced Naz Reid to play the last 20 minutes of the game. The 2024 Sixth Man of the Year award winner finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds and made sure the interior defense didn't collapse without the long arms of Gobert.
“A lot of the times we kind of understand the sense of urgency in the second half,” Reid said. “It’s nice to kind of have that at the end of the game, but I think we just kind of figure it out as the game goes on. As the second half comes, we kind of all-the-way turn it on, which is like not normal, but we’ve been getting the wins.”
Edwards missed four games earlier this season with a strained right hamstring. The three-time All-Star, who is eighth in the NBA with an average of 28.7 points per game, has already tallied his most absences since the 2021-22 season when he played in 72 games.
With the Timberwolves in a slower stretch of the schedule, Edwards could get eight days of rest while only missing the two games. Minnesota hosts Memphis on Wednesday.
“It’s such a bummer, but sometimes it’s good for some players,” Hyland said. “Sometimes it’s just God opening a door for you. You still want to be there for your teammate if he’s injured, be a good person, good teammate, but also step up. When someone goes down, we’re all a team.”
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Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards watches from the bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, left, and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry speak after an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, center, reacts from the bench during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
