Minnesota Timberwolves beat Houston Rockets in record NBA overtime comeback
The Minnesota Timberwolves overcame a 13-point overtime deficit to defeat the Houston Rockets 110-108 on Wednesday, setting a new NBA record for the largest comeback in an extra period.
The Western Conference contenders achieved the remarkable feat despite missing five of their top seven rotational players during the closing stages at Target Center.
Trailing 108-95 after a devastating 26-2 Houston run, the hosts responded with an astonishing 15-0 surge to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Overcoming severe adversity
Head coach Chris Finch praised his side’s resilience after they surrendered an 11-point lead late in regulation time.
“We deserved to win that game. We were the better team all night, and we gave them a chance to steal it from us, but we stole it right back,” said Finch.
The Minneapolis-based franchise was already without superstar Anthony Edwards, who missed his fifth consecutive game with an ongoing knee issue.
Their roster woes deepened when key backup Ayo Dosunmu was sidelined and defensive specialist Jaden McDaniels hobbled off late in the fourth quarter.
The situation looked increasingly dire for the home side when French center Rudy Gobert fouled out and Naz Reid was ejected early in overtime for dissenting an offensive foul call.
Randle orchestrates historic turnaround
With the home crowd heading for the exits after Alperen Sengun’s dunk seemingly sealed the contest, Julius Randle took control of the game.
The dynamic forward, who had spent the evening sharing defensive duties on Kevin Durant, orchestrated a methodical fightback alongside veteran guard Mike Conley.
Conley ignited the rally with a crucial three-pointer before Kyle Anderson converted a pivotal three-point play to shift the momentum.
Following a ferocious defensive stand that forced an eight-second violation, Donte DiVincenzo slashed the deficit to five points.
Randle then blew past Sengun for a layup, setting the stage for DiVincenzo to tie the game with a dramatic shot from beyond the arc.
With just 8.8 seconds remaining, Randle sank a decisive pull-up jumper to cap off a 24-point performance and secure an improbable win.
“When it gets tough, we come together as a group. It brings the best out of us,” noted the game-winning scorer.
Crucial playoff implications
This historic triumph keeps Finch’s squad firmly in the hunt for a superior postseason seeding.
The dramatic victory ensures they remain just a half-game behind the Denver Nuggets in the race for fourth place.