In a historic night for a young superstar, the Minnesota Timberwolves secured their fourth consecutive victory by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 131-122 on Friday, January 9, 2026 (Philippine Time). The game was highlighted by a major career milestone for Anthony Edwards and a dominant performance from Julius Randle.
Edwards Enters Elite Scoring Company
The story of the night belonged to 24-year-old Anthony Edwards. With his performance, he etched his name into the NBA record books by becoming the third-youngest player in league history to reach 10,000 career points. He now stands in the rarefied air behind only Los Angeles Lakers legend LeBron James, who achieved the feat at 23, and Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant, who did it at 24—the same age as Edwards.
Despite the monumental achievement, Edwards remained characteristically focused on the bigger picture. "To be honest, it’s cool, but I know I’ve got a lot more to go, so it’s really nothing, for real," said the humble star, who contributed 25 points to the winning effort.
Randle's Third-Quarter Takeover Seals the Win
While Edwards made history, Julius Randle was the engine that drove the Timberwolves to victory. The powerful big man put up a monster stat line of 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists. His impact was most felt in a decisive third quarter.
The Cavaliers actually held a slim halftime lead, 67-63. However, the momentum shifted completely after the break. Randle took over, scoring 13 of his total points in the third period as the Timberwolves unleashed a 20-point run to seize control of the game. Cleveland attempted a rally in the fourth quarter, but Minnesota's defense held firm to secure the win.
Key Contributors and Conference Standings
The Timberwolves' victory was a full team effort. Jaden McDaniels provided a crucial 26 points, while Donte DiVincenzo added 22 points to the scoreboard. With this win, Minnesota tightened its grip on fourth place in the competitive Western Conference, improving their record to 25-13.
On the other side, the Cavaliers (21-18), who sit eighth in the Eastern Conference, were led by a game-high 30 points from Donovan Mitchell. He received support from Sam Merrill (22 points), Evan Mobley (19 points), and Darius Garland (16 points), but it wasn't enough to overcome Minnesota's second-half surge.
This game not only extended the Timberwolves' winning streak but also served as a powerful statement about the rising stature of Anthony Edwards as one of the league's premier talents, now officially alongside the all-time greats in the record books.
