Timberwolves blow out Clippers 127-101 behind Ball's 24 points for 1st win without Edwards

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — LaMelo Ball had a season-high 24 points and Jaden McDaniels scored 23 as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Clippers 127-101 on Friday night in NBA Cup group play for their first win without star Anthony Edwards.

Bones Hyland added 19 points and eight assists off the bench for the Timberwolves (4-2), who offered a glimpse of how they can still thrive while Edwards recovers from arthroscopic knee surgery.

After a 127-125 overtime loss at Cleveland on Monday, a fresh exam for Edwards indicated the need for the procedure after the wear-and-tear injury limited him to a career-low 61 regular-season games in 2025-26. The Timberwolves were out of sorts for most of a 119-114 loss to Golden State on Wednesday, before regrouping behind their new star Ball and the two-way excellence of McDaniels.

Ball made three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter as the Timberwolves used a 20-2 surge to run away with the game. Each of their four victories have come by more than 20 points. McDaniels finished 11 for 15 from the floor, with seven assists and six rebounds.

Backup guard Jaylen Clark relieved McDaniels from some of the defensive duty on Darius Garland and helped force five turnovers by the Clippers star. Clark had five points, two steals and a plus-23 rating in 17 minutes.

Garland scored 24 points on 10-for-22 shooting and Brook Lopez added 13 points and six rebounds off the bench for the Clippers (1-4), who lost their fourth consecutive game. They've played so far without newcomers Brandon Ingram and Max Strus due to foot injuries.

Clippers rookie Keaton Wagler had 12 points on 2-for-11 shooting and was minus-24. Rui Hachimura returned to the starting lineup from a one-game absence (quadriceps) with 12 points in 26 minutes.

Clippers: At the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.

Timberwolves: At the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

Los Angeles Clippers guard Darius Garland (10) celebrates after making a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn (8) loses control of the ball as Minnesota Timberwolves guard LaMelo Ball, center, defends during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard LaMelo Ball dribbles downcourt during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard LaMelo Ball (1) shoots over Los Angeles Clippers forward Isaiah Jackson, right, during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard LaMelo Ball (1) celebrates after making a 3-point basket during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Police secured Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal on Friday as dozens of protesters gathered to demonstrate against what they perceive as the wrongful suspension of the top court’s president by the current pro-European government.

Police said they detained three people after some protesters breached the tribunal’s fence and others threw objects at officers.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki, who was flying to Senegal, said he turned his flight back because of the situation. “At ​a moment like this, the ​President must be in Poland. I ⁠am cutting short my flight ​to Senegal. I am returning,” he ​wrote on X.

Poland's top judicial bodies, including the Constitutional Tribunal, have been a major bone of contention between the current pro-European government and the main opposition party, national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS).

Critics in Poland and the European Union accuse PiS, which led the country between 2015 and 2023, of imposing political control over key judicial institutions, including the Constitutional Tribunal. The PiS reforms led the EU to impose fines on Poland.

The pro-European government of Donald Tusk came to power in 2023 with a promise to restore the independence of the judiciary. Since then, the government’s efforts have been blocked by veto by two successive presidents aligned with PiS, including Nawrocki.

The information about the suspension of the president of the Constitutional Tribunal, Bogdan Święczkowski, was published on the website of the court around 6 p.m. local time. The website of the Tribunal went down soon after so The Associated Press could not independently verify the official reasons given for his suspension.

Święczkowski became head of the Constitutional Tribunal under the PiS government, and Tusk has accused him of blocking judges elected by the parliamentary majority from taking up their posts at the tribunal.

“Restoring the rule of law is our obligation," Prime Minister Tusk wrote on X on Friday evening. "After years of lawlessness under PiS this is a difficult process, sometimes painful and it requires decisive action. There is no other way.”

Speaking about the future of the Constitutional Tribunal at Campus Polska in August, Tusk said his government had a plan to ensure the tribunal would be again staffed with lawfully appointed judges while acknowledging his methods may not be to everyone's liking.

Politicians from PiS, currently the largest opposition force, have criticized Święczkowski's suspension.

“This is a blatant, criminal attack on the constitutional order," former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro wrote on X Friday evening. “That is why I call for resistance that will be loud, firm, solidary and fearless.”

Polish President Karol Nawrocki speaks at Malacañang Palace in Manila, Philippines, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. (Ezra Acayan/Pool Photo via AP)