SALT LAKE CITY – As Anthony Edwards put it, the moments leading up to the Timberwolves' 143-118 victory over Utah were "crazy." About 45 minutes after word leaked that the Wolves were trading D'Angelo Russell and landing Mike Conley in a three-team trade involving them, the Lakers and Jazz, the Wolves had to go out and face Utah.
Each team was missing those players involved in the trade: Russell for the Wolves and, for the Jazz, Conley, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who is coming to the Wolves, and former Wolves Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt, who are going to the Lakers.
The Wolves, playing the second night of a back-to-back, were also shorthanded because of injuries or rest for Kyle Anderson (back spasms) and Rudy Gobert (right groin soreness). Coach Chris Finch said the team briefly addressed the day's awkwardness.
"These things, it's unfortunate timing, you don't ever get to pick your timing," Finch said while declining to delve into specifics about the trade, which hasn't been made official. "Maybe in some ways, it was good that we could just play a game and not have to overthink things. But guys were ready."
That was actually selling the Wolves short. In one of their easiest wins of the season, they got career nights from various players. Jaylen Nowell got the start and had a career-high 30 points. It was a big moment for Nowell in an otherwise up-and-down season.
"The last few games, whether they've gone in or not, he's back to shooting it, trusting it and tonight it was good to see them go in," Finch said.
Center Luka Garza came off the bench for a career-high 25 points, a tally that included four three-pointers in a season where he is shooting just 30 percent from deep.
"It was definitely strange with everything going on," Garza said. "But I think Jordan McLaughlin said it really well before the game started, just don't let them play harder than us. Just focus on that. We came out with energy, we had guys step up. Shoutout Josh, he's been so ready."
