Porzingis scores 41, Wizards beat Wolves after Towns hurt

WASHINGTON - Kristaps Porzingis scored a career-high 41 points, including 29 in the first half, and the Washington Wizards beat Minnesota 142-127 on Monday after Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony-Towns was helped off the court in the third quarter with a right leg injury.

Towns grabbed at his leg and went down near midcourt. He was helped off without putting weight on the leg, and the team announced that he had a right calf strain.

Porzingis made all six of his 3-pointers in the first half. Washington shot 57% from the field for the game.

Kyle Kuzma scored 23 points for the Wizards and Bradley Beal added 22.

Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 29.

Porzingis made his first four shots, all from 3-point range, and Washington pulled ahead 21-6 early. It was a five-point game after one quarter, but the Wizards pulled away in the second. A 3-pointer by Porzingis capped a 12-0 run that made it 68-44, and his final 3 gave Washington its biggest lead at 73-46.

Minnesota closed the half with a 12-4 run and then scored the first 10 points of the third, but the Timberwolves never got much closer. Towns left the game immediately after Kuzma made a 3-pointer to make it 93-76.

It was a rough couple days for the Timberwolves defensively. They lost 137-114 to Golden State on Sunday.

Washington was also playing the second half of a back-to-back after losing 130-121 at Boston.

MILESTONE

Porzingis' previous career high was 40 points when he was with the New York Knicks, against Indiana on Nov. 5, 2017.

He surpassed that with a three-point play with 4:49 to play, then exited the game moments later.

TIP-INS

Timberwolves: Minnesota was without Jaden McDaniels (illness), Jordan McLaughlin (left calf strain) and Taurean Prince (right shoulder subluxation).

Wizards: Rui Hachimura (right ankle soreness) and Delon Wright (right hamstring strain) did not play.

UP NEXT

Timberwolves: Host Memphis on Wednesday night.

Wizards: At Brooklyn on Wednesday night.