Timberwolves Surge to Overtime Victory Over Rockets, Fueled by Randle’s Late Heroics
MINNEAPOLIS – Julius Randle delivered a clutch jumper with 8.8 seconds remaining in overtime, lifting the Minnesota Timberwolves to a thrilling 110-108 victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night. The Timberwolves overcame a 13-point deficit in the extra period, marking their largest comeback since detailed play-by-play tracking began in 1997.
Randle Shines in Second Half Comeback
Randle, who scored all 24 of his points after halftime, found himself at the center of late-game drama. He was called for a foul on Kevin Durant’s drive with 3.3 seconds left in overtime. Durant missed the second free throw intentionally, hoping to regain possession, but the Rockets were unable to secure a final shot attempt.
Rockets’ Late Push Falls Short
Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun led the Rockets with 30 points apiece, orchestrating a 12-0 run late in the fourth quarter to briefly seize the lead after trailing by 11 with just over three minutes remaining. Houston initially dominated the overtime period, scoring the first 13 points before the Timberwolves responded with a decisive 15-0 run.
Timberwolves Overcome Injury and Ejection Challenges
Jaden McDaniels contributed 25 points for the Timberwolves before exiting the game with an apparent leg injury. Minnesota faced further adversity as Naz Reid was ejected for disputing a call, Rudy Gobert fouled out, and Ayo Dosunmu was sidelined with a sore calf, leaving the team without five of its top seven players by game’s end.
Playoff Implications and Team Standings
Rudy Gobert added 14 points and 14 rebounds, although Naz Reid chipped in with 14 points and 13 rebounds. The Timberwolves (45-28) remain a half-game behind the Denver Nuggets for fourth place in the Western Conference playoff race. The Rockets (43-29) currently hold the sixth seed.
Looking Ahead
The Rockets and Timberwolves will meet again on April 10 in Houston. Minnesota will visit Memphis on Friday, while the Timberwolves will host Detroit on Saturday. View the Timberwolves full schedule and the Rockets full schedule.
Durant Reaches Scoring Milestone
Despite the loss, Kevin Durant achieved a significant career milestone, surpassing Dirk Nowitzki (11,169) for eighth place on the NBA’s all-time list for career regular season baskets made, now totaling 11,177. ESPN details Durant’s achievement.
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