Anthony Edwards scores 40 points to help the T-wolves hand the Mavericks their 10th straight loss

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards returned to Minnesota with hisAll-Star Game MVP awardand scored 40 points to help the Timberwolves hold off Dallas 122-111 on Friday, the 10th straight loss for the Mavericks.

Associated Press Minnesota Timberwolves' Bones Hyland (8) celebrates a basket against the Dallas Mavericks during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Lily Dozier) Dallas Mavericks' Daniel Gafford (21) goes against Rudy Gobert (27) at the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday Feb. 20, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Lily Dozier) Minnesota Timberwolves' Bones Hyland (8) communicates with a teammate against the Dallas Mavericks during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Lily Dozier)

Timberwolves Mavericks Basketball

Rudy Gobert had 22 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks and Naz Reid added 21 points for the Timberwolves, who squandered a 17-point first-half lead before Edwards took over down the stretch.

Tyus Jones tied the game at 103 on a floater with 6:55 left, capping a 12-2 spurt for the Mavericks and ending a stretch of 36:32 during which the Timberwolves were ahead. But Edwards answered with a step-back 3-pointer and Reid hit one too less than a minute later, and the Mavericks never grabbed the lead.

Edwards, who has eight 40-point games this season, had 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Khris Middleton had 18 points and Marvin Bagley added 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Mavericks, who are on their longest losing streak in 28 years.

The Mavericks last won on Jan. 22 against the Golden State Warriors. They played without star rookie Cooper Flagg for the second straight game, whosesprained footneeded more a little time to heal than the All-Star break afforded him. Max Christie (ankle) was also out for a team that's also missing Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively with injuries for the remainder of the season.

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The Timberwolves started 8 of 13 from 3-point range, posted a 40-point first quarter and ballooned their lead to 17 points late in the second quarter before a lackadaisical start to the second half. Julius Randle finished with just 13 points on 4-for-15 shooting.

Gobert was given a flagrant foul in the second quarter that will trigger an automatic one-game suspension due to his running season total.

Up next

Dallas: at Indiana on Sunday.

Minnesota: vs. Philadelphia on Sunday.

AP NBA:https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Anthony Edwards scores 40 points to help the T-wolves hand the Mavericks their 10th straight loss

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards returned to Minnesota with hisAll-Star Game MVP awardand scored 40 points to help the...
Luka Doncic scores 38 and the Lakers hold off the Clippers 125-122 to split LA rivals' season series

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic had 38 points and 11 assists, Austin Reaves added 29 points and the Los Angeles Lakers held off the Los Angeles Clippers down the stretch for a 125-122 victory Friday night.

Associated Press Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic gestures after scoring a 3-point basket against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh) Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts after scoring as Los Angeles Lakers forward Jake LaRavia (12) watches during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh) Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves looks to shoot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh) Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) drives against Los Angeles Clippers center Yanic Konan Niederhauser during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh) Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James shoots during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Clippers Lakers Basketball

LeBron James had 13 points and 11 assists for the Lakers in their return from the All-Star break. They blew a 15-point lead in the second half, but Doncic scored 12 points in the fourth quarter as the Lakers split the four-game season series with their crosstown rivals.

Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points before missing the final 5:10 with an apparent ankle injury for the Clippers (27-29), who fell just short of getting back to .500 in incredible fashion after their 6-21 start to the season.

Bennedict Mathurin had 26 points and seven rebounds in his second straight outstanding game for his new team before fouling out with 1:49 to play. The athletic guard acquired from Indiana for center Ivica Zubac droppeda career-high-tying 38 against Denveron Thursday.

Derrick Jones Jr. scored on consecutive possessions to trim the Lakers' lead to 123-120 with 46 seconds left. Nicolas Batum then stole James' pass in the final seconds, but the Frenchman missed a tying 3-point attempt with 4 seconds left.

Doncic, James and Reaves were able to play together for only the 11th time in the Lakers' 55 games this season, thanks to a rare moment of full health for the Lakers coming out of the break. They responded with a prolific offensive performance, even while James managed just two points in the second half.

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In Doncic's return from a four-game absence followed by a five-minuteAll-Star Gameappearance due to a mildly strained hamstring, the Slovenian superstar scored 17 points with four 3-pointers in a dynamic first quarter for the Lakers, who made 16 of 17 shots in one stretch.

Leonard, who had just one bucket in the first, answered with a 19-point second.

The Clippers' John Collins was helped off the court with 18 seconds left in the first half after he bloodied his face on a hard landing while trying to catch a long pass at the rim.

Up next

Clippers: Host Orlando on Sunday.

Lakers: Host Boston on Sunday.

AP NBA:https://apnews.com/NBA

Luka Doncic scores 38 and the Lakers hold off the Clippers 125-122 to split LA rivals' season series

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic had 38 points and 11 assists, Austin Reaves added 29 points and the Los Angeles Lakers he...
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard (ankle soreness) exits vs. Lakers

Los Angeles Clippers All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard departed his team's 125-122 road loss against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday with 5:10 remaining while dealing with left ankle soreness, the team announced.

Field Level Media

Leonard finished with 31 points for his 35th consecutive game with at least 20 points.

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue didn't sound overly concerned about the injury postgame.

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"Kawhi's been dealing with some left ankle soreness, so it got stiff on him so we got him out," Lue said.

Leonard, who has dealt with chronic knee issues since joining the Clippers to start the 2019-20 season, missed 10 games earlier this season with ankle and foot injuries.

A seven-time All-Star, Leonard entered Friday averaging a career-high 27.8 points along with 6.4 rebounds in 42 games this season. In 14 NBA seasons, the two-time NBA champion has averaged 20.5 points with 6.4 rebounds in 775 games (746 starts).

--Field Level Media

Clippers star Kawhi Leonard (ankle soreness) exits vs. Lakers

Los Angeles Clippers All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard departed his team's 125-122 road loss against the Los Angele...

 

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