Wolves Fall Short to Pistons Without Edwards

Minnesota drops tight matchup in Detroit despite strong efforts from Randle and Dosunmu.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 8:52am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the dynamic movements and energy of a basketball game, with the players and court rendered in sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of color.The Timberwolves' loss to the Pistons without star player Anthony Edwards underscores the team's need for a healthy roster as the playoff race intensifies.Philadelphia Today

The Minnesota Timberwolves fell to the Detroit Pistons 113-108 on Thursday night, with star player Anthony Edwards missing the game due to a knee injury and illness. Julius Randle led the Wolves with 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Ayo Dosunmu added 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. Naz Reid also chipped in 19 points off the bench, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Pistons.

Why it matters

The loss drops the Timberwolves to 46-30 on the season, putting them in sixth place in the Western Conference standings. With only six games left in the regular season, Minnesota is now one game behind the fifth-place Denver Nuggets. Edwards' absence also means he will miss the minimum games played requirement to qualify for any of the NBA's individual regular season awards.

The details

In the tight matchup, the Timberwolves were led by strong performances from Julius Randle, who had 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, and Ayo Dosunmu, who added 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. Naz Reid also contributed 19 points off the bench for Minnesota. However, the team struggled without star player Anthony Edwards, who missed the game due to a knee injury and illness.

  • The game took place on Thursday, April 3, 2026.
  • The Timberwolves will next visit the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday, April 4, 2026 at 6 p.m. on FanDuel Sports Network North.

The players

Julius Randle

A forward for the Minnesota Timberwolves who led the team with 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists in the loss to the Pistons.

Ayo Dosunmu

A guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves who scored 19 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, and dished out 4 assists in the game.

Naz Reid

A center for the Minnesota Timberwolves who came off the bench to score 19 points.

Anthony Edwards

The star player for the Minnesota Timberwolves who missed the game due to a knee injury and illness, making him ineligible for individual NBA awards this season.

Mike Conley

A guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves who scored 14 points in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We really missed Anthony's presence out there tonight. He's such a big part of what we do, and without him we just couldn't quite get over the top.”

— Julius Randle, Forward, Minnesota Timberwolves

What’s next

The Timberwolves will look to bounce back on Friday when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers, hoping to gain ground in the tight Western Conference playoff race.

The takeaway

The Timberwolves' loss to the Pistons without star player Anthony Edwards highlights the importance of having a healthy roster as the team fights for playoff positioning in the final weeks of the regular season. Minnesota will need to find a way to win games without Edwards if he is unable to return soon.