The Timberwolves defeated the Trail Blazers 118-114

Anthony Edwards scored 41 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Portland Trail Blazers 118-114 at the end of the fourth quarter of the NBA match.

Edwards, who averaged a career-high 27.6 points last season, was questionable for the game with back spasms, but started.

The Blazers led 46-40 midway through the second quarter thanks to Chris Murray’s 3-pointer. But Jaden McDaniels answered at the other end with an emphatic dunk on Portland’s 7-foot-1 rookie Yang Hansen.

The Blazers, who missed the playoffs last season for the fourth year in a row, led 61-57 at halftime and maintained a narrow advantage until late in the fourth quarter.

Edwards hit a backhand jumper to pull Minnesota to within 107-105, then made a 3-pointer to make it 108-107 with 3:36 remaining. Another Edwards 3 gave Minnesota a 114-112 lead and Rudy Gobert scored with 32.1 seconds left.

Julius Randle scored 19 points for the Timberwolves, who qualified for the Western Conference Finals last season.

Jerami Grant was the Blazers’ top scorer with 29 points.

damian Lillard, Who returned to the Blazers this offseasonHe received a standing ovation from the crowd at the Moda Center when he was introduced before the match. Lillard suffers from an Achilles tendon injury and will not play this season.

Portland was also playing without guard Scott Henderson, who was sidelined at the start of the season with a torn left hamstring.

Tom Dundon, owner of the Carolina Hurricanes, was at the game. Dundon leads the group that has Agreed to purchase the Trail Blazers from Paul Allen’s estate. The sale still must be approved by the NBA Board of Governors.

The Timberwolves visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. The Trail Blazers host the Golden State Warriors on Friday night.