Donte DiVincenzo scored 25 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 125-109 victory over the winless Brooklyn Nets on Monday night in New York.
DiVincenzo hit two 3-pointers in the fourth when the Timberwolves outscored the Nets 34-21. The guard shot 8 of 17 overall and made six 3s after hitting five in Saturday’s win over Charlotte.
Julius Randle totaled 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his 15th career triple-double and first since Jan. 20, 2024, for the New York Knicks. He got the triple-double by getting an assist on Naz Reid’s 3 that gave the Wolves a 20-point lead with 3:18 remaining.
Jaden McDaniels added 22 on 9-of-11 shooting as the Wolves improved to 2-2 since losing Anthony Edwards to a strained right hamstring. Edwards was cleared for contact earlier Monday.
Reid added 21 points off the bench as the Wolves shot 56.4% from the field and 40% on 3-pointers.
Rudy Gobert collected 15 points and a game-high 12 rebounds as Minnesota scored 56 points in the paint and outrebounded Brooklyn 53-40.
The Nets turned in one of their better showings through three quarters in their season-opening seven-game losing streak. Brooklyn is off to its first 0-7 start since dropping the first seven games of the 2015-16 season.
Cam Thomas scored 25 points for the Nets, who were 6-of-26 shooting in the fourth quarter and shot 40.4% overall. Nic Claxton added 19 points, eight rebounds and seven assists and Noah Clowney contributed 15 points in place of Michael Porter Jr. (personal reasons).
Ziaire Williams contributed 14 points and Tyrese Martin added 12 for the Nets, who took their fifth double-digit loss.
The Wolves held a 63-59 lead by halftime following a dunk by Gobert with 25.2 seconds left and appeared to seize control in the third.
Minnesota took its first double-digit lead when Gobert threw down another dunk for a 74-64 lead with 9:39 left in the third. Brooklyn responded and took an 88-87 lead on a four-point play by Williams with 1:57 left.
The Wolves held a 91-88 lead entering the fourth and Reid’s 3-pointer opened a 100-90 lead with 8:08 left. DiVincenzo sank a corner 3 in front of Minnesota’s bench with 5:44 left for a 111-95 lead after sinking a triple on the Wolves’ previous possession.
