Heat edge Timberwolves 95-94 on Nikola Jovic's layup-and-1 with 7.8 seconds left
Heat outlast Wolves in wild back-and-forth finish
After Jaden McDaniels' putback bucket gives the Timberwolves the lead, Nikola Jovic responds with an and-1 basket to put the Heat ahead for good.
MINNEAPOLIS -- — Nikola Jovic made the tying layup and go-ahead foul shot with 7.8 seconds left to send the Miami Heat past the Minnesota Timberwolves 95-94 and stop their three-game losing streak on Sunday night.
Jovic, who had 15 points and seven rebounds in his first game off the bench this season, drove to the rim with four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert subbed out. Jovic went to the line to give the Heat their first lead since 63-61.
Mike Conley's 3-point attempt at the buzzer was short and finished another harried possession by the Timberwolves, whose three-game winning streak ended. Jaden McDaniels gave them the lead with a putback of Conley's miss with nine seconds left.
Tyler Herro had 26 points for the Heat, who played without star Jimmy Butler.
Anthony Edwards scored 22 points on 8-for-24 shooting for the Wolves, who trailed by 12 points after a 3-for-15 start from 3-point range. They closed the gap to 52-51 at the break with their only solid stretch on offense.
Heat: Overcoming 23 turnovers with 14 steals and nine blocks, all season highs, the Heat made Minnesota's offense just as much of a mess as theirs. Jaime Jaquez Jr. (illness) returned from a three-game absence.
Timberwolves: Twenty turnovers and rough shooting was stemmed a bit by a season-best 16 offensive rebounds, six by Gobert.
Naz Reid, who went 4 for 7 from deep, hit a 3-pointer late in the third quarter to put the Timberwolves up 64-63 for their first lead since 10-9. That came midway through a 15-0 run.
Herro set a career best with his 39th consecutive game, including the playoffs, with double-digit points. The streak started on Jan. 8.
Miami plays at Detroit on Tuesday. Minnesota plays at Portland on Tuesday and stays there for a second game on Wednesday.
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Regular Season Series
MIA leads 1-0
Game Information
- Referees:
- Mark Lindsay
- Kevin Cutler
- Mousa Dagher
2024-25 Southeast Standings
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Orlando | 21 | 16 | .568 | - | L1 |
Miami | 17 | 16 | .515 | 2 | L2 |
Atlanta | 18 | 18 | .500 | 2.5 | L3 |
Charlotte | 7 | 27 | .206 | 12.5 | L10 |
Washington | 6 | 27 | .182 | 13 | L2 |
2024-25 Northwest Standings
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oklahoma City | 30 | 5 | .857 | - | W15 |
Denver | 20 | 14 | .588 | 9.5 | W1 |
Minnesota | 17 | 17 | .500 | 12.5 | L3 |
Portland | 12 | 23 | .343 | 18 | L1 |
Utah | 9 | 25 | .265 | 20.5 | W2 |