Behind 31 points from Julius Randle, the Minnesota Timberwolves weathered the early exit of star Anthony Edwards to send the visiting Indiana Pacers to their third straight loss to open the season, 114-110, yesterday (Philippine time).

Edwards, Minnesota’s two-time All-NBA guard, sustained what was announced as right hamstring tightness just three minutes into the contest in Minneapolis. Edwards attacked the basket and took contact, then was taken to the locker room after being subbed out.

With the explosive scorer Edwards out of the lineup, Randle picked up the slack with a season-high point total on 11-of-18 shooting from the floor. He led five Timberwolves scoring in double figures, joined by starters Donte DiVincenzo with 17, Rudy Gobert with 14, and Jaden McDaniels with 11.

Naz Reid came off the bench to score 16 points and grab 10 rebounds. He and Gobert, who had 18 rebounds, each recorded double-doubles for Minnesota, helping counter a sensational effort from Indiana’s Pascal Siakam.

Siakam led all scorers with 33 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished eight assists. He added three steals to his near-triple-double stat line, stepping up for a Pacers lineup facing its own injury issues.

Indiana came into the season already down Tyrese Haliburton, the result of an Achilles’ injury sustained in Game 7 of June’s NBA Finals.

Indiana’s 16 turnovers, which Minnesota converted into 26 points, were too much for the Pacers to endure. (Field Level Media / Reuters)