LaMelo Ball hits his 1,000th three in his 311th game, the fastest in NBA history, and scores a season-high 34 for the Timberwolves

LaMelo Ball hit the 1,000th three-pointer of his career in his 311th game on Monday night, the fewest games any player has needed, and went on to score a season-high 34 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Milwaukee Bucks 112-100 at Target Center.

The previous record was Duncan Robinson’s 343 games. Ball made his third three of the night to pass it, early in the first quarter. Stephen Curry, the league’s all-time leader in made threes, ranks sixth in games needed.

Ball’s night, posted by the NBA on X: 34 points, six rebounds and six threes.

13 of Minnesota’s first 17

Ball was listed as questionable with a right wrist contusion, and he did not play like it. He scored 13 of Minnesota’s first 17 points and had 24 by halftime, matching his season high for a game in the first two quarters.

Ball in the first half, posted by the NBA on X: 24 points and five threes.

He finished 12-of-21 from the field and 6-of-13 from three, with six rebounds and three assists. It was a season high in both field goals made and attempted. He came in averaging 14.4 points and 6.3 assists while shooting 39.5% from the field.

Without Edwards

Anthony Edwards is out after knee surgery, for possibly a couple more months, and guard Terrence Shannon Jr. missed the game with a left hip contusion. Ball has taken more shots in Edwards’ absence, and his sixth three, midway through the fourth quarter, put Minnesota up 96-81.

The Timberwolves pulled away with an 11-3 run to open the fourth, started by six points from Jaden McDaniels, who finished with 13. That made it 91-79, their first double-digit lead since the opening quarter. Ayo Dosunmu had 19 points and a season-high 12 rebounds, and six Timberwolves scored in double figures.

It was not as easy as Minnesota’s other wins this season. Each of its four earlier victories came by more than 20 points, and Monday’s game produced season lows in points and shooting percentage (42.7%) for the Timberwolves, who are 5-3.

Tyler Herro led Milwaukee with 21 points and Jaime Jaquez Jr. had 19. Rookie Brayden Burries, the No. 10 pick in this year’s draft, made his first NBA start and scored nine points on 4-of-15 shooting. The Bucks shot 38.4%, a season worst, and are 1-6. They lost for the sixth time in seven games, but it was the first defeat in which they did not allow at least 127 points.

The Timberwolves visit Houston on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET.