Towns, Edwards lead Timberwolves past undermanned Pistons

<p>DETROIT &mdash; Karl-Anthony Towns scored 28 points and Anthony Edwards added 22 as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the undermanned Detroit Pistons 119-100 on Tuesday night in a game with significant lottery implications.</p>
<p>Minnesota’s second straight win was its 22nd in 69 games, while the Pistons dropped to 20-50. The Houston Rockets (16-53) are the only team with fewer wins than Detroit. There are three teams – the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Orlando Magic and the Cleveland Cavaliers – with 21 wins.</p>
<p>Ricky Rubio added 19 points for Minnesota while DeAngelo Russell had 15 points and 10 assists.</p>
<p>Saddiq Bey scored 21 points and Saben Lee added 20 for Detroit, which lost for the 10th time in 12 games.</p>
<p>Pistons coach Dwane Casey had nine players dressed, including six rookies and they struggled badly on offense. Detroit shot 34.3% in the first half and turned the ball over 15 times for 16 Minnesota points.</p>
<p>The Timberwolves led 62-40 at the start of the second half, but the Pistons scored the first 12 points of the third quarter to make it a 10-point game. Minnesota, though, went on an 8-0 run of their own to move the score to 70-52.</p>
<p>The margin was 86-65 at the period’s end, and Detroit never threatened in a low-intensity fourth quarter.</p>
<p>TIP INS</p>
<p>Timberwolves: Minnesota’s starters scored 73 of its 86 points in the first three quarters, including 22 of 24 in the third quarter.</p>
<p>Pistons: Point guards Killian Hayes and Saben Lee only committed one of Detroit’s 16 turnovers in the first half. Shooting guard Josh Jackson had seven and Saddiq Bey added three.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Timberwolves: Host the Denver Nuggets on Thursday.</p>
<p>Pistons: Host the Denver Nuggets on Friday.</p>