Antonio Reeves' late floater lifts Timberwolves past Heat in 125-124 thriller

Minnesota's depth built the margin

The result turned on the final shot, but Minnesota gave itself that chance by controlling most of the night. The Timberwolves led 24-23 after one quarter, 60-56 at halftime and 91-85 through three. They stretched their advantage as high as 14 and still had to survive 19 lead changes in a game that never stayed quiet for long.

Minnesota's scoring came in layers rather than through one dominant line. Bones Hyland supplied the sharpest punch, pouring in 23 points in 21 minutes on 6-of-9 shooting, hitting 5 of 6 from three and all 6 free throws. Terrence Shannon Jr. added 19 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Zyon Pullin kept the pressure on with 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting and a perfect 8-for-8 at the line. Joan Beringer's 10 points, seven rebounds and four blocks gave the Timberwolves another steady interior presence.

That balance mattered because Miami shot well enough to punish any lull. Minnesota answered by getting to the stripe 33 times and making 29, and by creating extra offence in transition. The Timberwolves finished with 23 fast-break points, 10 steals and seven blocks, numbers that helped offset Miami's stronger three-point accuracy and its edge in points in the paint.

Miami kept finding another run

Miami's offence had enough variety to keep the game under constant pressure. Ryan Conwell led the Heat with 22 points and nine assists without a turnover, and Vladislav Goldin followed with 18 points. Nikola Jovic added 16 points, six rebounds and three assists, Simone Fontecchio scored 14, and Myron Gardner and Ian Schieffelin reached double figures as well. The Heat moved the ball for 27 assists and hit 16 of 34 from deep.

The Heat also had a knack for changing the feel of the game late in quarters. Fontecchio's three-pointer with 38.6 seconds left in the second put Miami ahead 56-55, only for Shannon to answer from long range and Cody Williams to add a layup for a 60-56 Minnesota halftime lead. In the third, the Timberwolves threatened to break it open when Trey Lyles opened with a three, Beringer finished an alley-oop, and Shannon and Hyland connected again from outside to help push the margin to 76-62. Miami still stayed close enough to make the fourth quarter dangerous.

A fourth quarter that refused to settle

The game tipped fully into chaos in the final period. Miami erased Minnesota's six-point edge and was level at 91-91 by the 10:11 mark, then kept pressing until Conwell's three-pointer and free throws around the middle of the quarter helped the Heat build a 106-100 lead. For a team that had trailed for long stretches, it was the clearest sign yet that the comeback might hold.

Minnesota answered with its best late sequence of the night. Isaiah Evans buried a three, Pullin scored twice in the lane, and Reeves drilled a running three-pointer as the Timberwolves ran off 10 straight points to move back in front 110-106. Even then, Miami still had another response. Goldin scored inside, Bez Mbeng hit from deep, Schieffelin added a three, and Conwell tied it at 121-121 with 47.8 seconds remaining.

The last half-minute kept turning. Rocco Zikarsky restored Minnesota's lead with 38.5 seconds to play. Goldin then converted a three-point play with 14.8 seconds left, pushing Miami ahead 124-123. That only set the table for the final answer. Reeves took his chance with 2.3 seconds left and floated in the winner, giving Minnesota a one-point escape after a fourth quarter that swung almost possession by possession.

Our take

Minnesota will like the resilience, but the sharper takeaway is how it won despite surrendering several of the headline categories. Miami made more threes, assisted on more baskets and scored more points in the paint. The Timberwolves compensated by getting the cleaner edge at the foul line and by turning Miami's 14 turnovers into 23 points. In a one-point game, those smaller margins are usually the real story.

For Miami, there was plenty here to encourage. Conwell's nine assists without a turnover, Goldin's finishing, and the team's 40-point fourth quarter showed an offence capable of coming in waves. The cleaner path to turning a game like this is not dramatic reinvention; it is trimming the giveaways and narrowing the free-throw gap. Minnesota, meanwhile, got the win and the late heroics, but it also left with a reminder that building a lead and closing a game are not the same task.

Scoring moments

1. 1st Quarter · 11:37

   Nikola Jovic makes 1-foot running dunk (Pelle Larsson assists)

2. 1st Quarter · 10:53

   Bones Hyland makes 24-foot three point jumper (Terrence Shannon Jr. assists)

3. 1st Quarter · 9:59

   Simone Fontecchio makes 26-foot three point jumper (Tre Donaldson assists)

4. 1st Quarter · 9:11

   Bones Hyland makes 25-foot running jump shot (Jaylen Clark assists)

5. 1st Quarter · 8:49

   Joan Beringer makes running layup (Bones Hyland assists)

6. 1st Quarter · 8:18

   Terrence Shannon Jr. makes layup

7. 1st Quarter · 7:39

   Joan Beringer makes tip in dunk

8. 1st Quarter · 7:26

   Nikola Jovic makes 26-foot three point jumper (Pelle Larsson assists)

9. 1st Quarter · 6:01

   Nikola Jovic makes finger roll layup

10. 1st Quarter · 4:44

    Isaiah Evans makes 23-foot three point jumper (Cody Williams assists)

11. 1st Quarter · 4:30

    Pelle Larsson makes 3-foot two point shot

12. 1st Quarter · 4:17

    Zyon Pullin makes 13-foot driving floating jump shot

13. 1st Quarter · 4:02

    Pelle Larsson makes 4-foot driving floating jump shot

14. 1st Quarter · 3:48

    KJ Martin makes free throw 1 of 2

15. 1st Quarter · 3:36

    Myron Gardner makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot (Tre Donaldson assists)

16. 1st Quarter · 3:07

    Ryan Conwell makes finger roll layup

17. 1st Quarter · 1:28

    KJ Martin makes 10-foot driving floating jump shot (Rocco Zikarsky assists)

18. 1st Quarter · 1:09

    Ian Schieffelin makes two point shot (Ryan Conwell assists)

19. 1st Quarter · 1:03

    Zyon Pullin makes free throw 1 of 2

20. 1st Quarter · 1:03

    Zyon Pullin makes free throw 2 of 2

21. 1st Quarter · 40.4

    Tre Donaldson makes 6-foot turnaround jump shot (Ryan Conwell assists)

22. 1st Quarter · 24.7

    Zyon Pullin makes free throw 1 of 2

23. 1st Quarter · 24.7

    Zyon Pullin makes free throw 2 of 2

24. 2nd Quarter · 11:44

    KJ Martin makes free throw 2 of 2

25. 2nd Quarter · 11:20

    Bones Hyland makes 17-foot pullup jump shot (Jaylen Clark assists)

26. 2nd Quarter · 11:03

    Vladislav Goldin makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot (Ryan Conwell assists)

27. 2nd Quarter · 10:45

    Ryan Conwell makes running layup

28. 2nd Quarter · 10:23

    KJ Martin makes 12-foot driving floating jump shot (Jaylen Clark assists)

29. 2nd Quarter · 10:14

    Jaylen Clark makes 3-foot layup (Bones Hyland assists)

30. 2nd Quarter · 9:54

    KJ Martin makes two point shot (Bones Hyland assists)

31. 2nd Quarter · 9:33

    Bones Hyland makes free throw 1 of 3

32. 2nd Quarter · 9:33

    Bones Hyland makes free throw 2 of 3

33. 2nd Quarter · 9:33

    Bones Hyland makes free throw 3 of 3

34. 2nd Quarter · 8:55

    Terrence Shannon Jr. makes 24-foot three point jumper (Trey Lyles assists)

35. 2nd Quarter · 8:42

    Ian Schieffelin makes 23-foot three point jumper (Ryan Conwell assists)

36. 2nd Quarter · 8:33

    Joan Beringer makes 4-foot alley oop dunk (Jaylen Clark assists)

37. 2nd Quarter · 8:20

    Vladislav Goldin makes 7-foot hook shot (Myron Gardner assists)

38. 2nd Quarter · 7:49

    Pelle Larsson makes layup

39. 2nd Quarter · 7:36

    Bones Hyland makes 24-foot three pointer (Joan Beringer assists)

40. 2nd Quarter · 7:10

    Myron Gardner makes 25-foot three point jumper (Ryan Conwell assists)

41. 2nd Quarter · 5:39

    Pelle Larsson makes free throw 1 of 2

42. 2nd Quarter · 5:39

    Pelle Larsson makes free throw 2 of 2

43. 2nd Quarter · 5:23

    Bones Hyland makes 25-foot three point step back jumpshot

44. 2nd Quarter · 5:05

    Simone Fontecchio makes 24-foot three point jumper (Nikola Jovic assists)

45. 2nd Quarter · 4:47

    Joan Beringer makes 6-foot dunk (Zyon Pullin assists)

46. 2nd Quarter · 4:26

    Nikola Jovic makes 22-foot three point jumper

47. 2nd Quarter · 3:15

    Terrence Shannon Jr. makes 19-foot pullup jump shot (Trey Lyles assists)

48. 2nd Quarter · 2:52

    Cody Williams makes free throw 1 of 2

49. 2nd Quarter · 2:52

    Cody Williams makes free throw 2 of 2

50. 2nd Quarter · 2:32

    Pelle Larsson makes free throw 1 of 2

51. 2nd Quarter · 2:32

    Pelle Larsson makes free throw 2 of 2

52. 2nd Quarter · 2:01

    Simone Fontecchio makes 25-foot three point jumper (Pelle Larsson assists)

53. 2nd Quarter · 1:36

    Nikola Jovic makes layup (Pelle Larsson assists)

54. 2nd Quarter · 45.6

    Terrence Shannon Jr. makes 3-foot two point shot

55. 2nd Quarter · 38.6

    Simone Fontecchio makes 25-foot three point jumper (Nikola Jovic assists)

56. 2nd Quarter · 28.9

    Terrence Shannon Jr. makes 24-foot three pointer

57. 2nd Quarter · 3.5

    Cody Williams makes 6-foot layup (Terrence Shannon Jr. assists)

58. 3rd Quarter · 11:32

    Trey Lyles makes 23-foot three point jumper (Bones Hyland assists)

59. 3rd Quarter · 11:22

    Pelle Larsson makes 8-foot driving floating jump shot (Nikola Jovic assists)

60. 3rd Quarter · 11:22

    Pelle Larsson makes free throw 1 of 1

61. 3rd Quarter · 10:50

    Joan Beringer makes 4-foot alley oop dunk (Terrence Shannon Jr. assists)

62. 3rd Quarter · 10:29

    Nick Richards makes tip shot

63. 3rd Quarter · 10:14

    Terrence Shannon Jr. makes 26-foot three pointer (Trey Lyles assists)

64. 3rd Quarter · 9:44

    Jaylen Clark makes free throw 1 of 2

65. 3rd Quarter · 9:44

    Jaylen Clark makes free throw 2 of 2

66. 3rd Quarter · 9:25

    Nick Richards makes free throw 1 of 2

67. 3rd Quarter · 9:07

    Bones Hyland makes free throw 1 of 3

68. 3rd Quarter · 9:07

    Bones Hyland makes free throw 2 of 3

69. 3rd Quarter · 9:07

    Bones Hyland makes free throw 3 of 3

70. 3rd Quarter · 8:46

    Bones Hyland makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jaylen Clark assists)

71. 3rd Quarter · 8:31

    Nikola Jovic makes 5-foot two point shot (Ryan Conwell assists)

72. 3rd Quarter · 8:14

    Trey Lyles makes free throw 2 of 2

73. 3rd Quarter · 7:24

    Pelle Larsson makes free throw 1 of 2

74. 3rd Quarter · 7:08

    Terrence Shannon Jr. makes two point shot

75. 3rd Quarter · 7:01

    Nick Richards makes 3-foot dunk (Pelle Larsson assists)

76. 3rd Quarter · 6:12

    Terrence Shannon Jr. makes 4-foot two point shot

77. 3rd Quarter · 5:57

    Nick Richards makes free throw 1 of 2

78. 3rd Quarter · 5:57

    Nick Richards makes free throw 2 of 2

79. 3rd Quarter · 5:36

    Ryan Conwell makes running layup

80. 3rd Quarter · 5:20

    KJ Martin makes driving layup (Terrence Shannon Jr. assists)

81. 3rd Quarter · 5:11

    Nikola Jovic makes driving layup

82. 3rd Quarter · 4:35

    Simone Fontecchio makes free throw 1 of 2

83. 3rd Quarter · 4:35

    Simone Fontecchio makes free throw 2 of 2

84. 3rd Quarter · 4:13

    Myron Gardner makes 25-foot three point jumper

85. 3rd Quarter · 2:56

    Zyon Pullin makes free throw 1 of 2

86. 3rd Quarter · 2:56

    Zyon Pullin makes free throw 2 of 2

87. 3rd Quarter · 1:42

    Ryan Conwell makes 25-foot three pointer

88. 3rd Quarter · 1:24

    Zyon Pullin makes 7-foot driving floating jump shot

89. 3rd Quarter · 1:13

    Myron Gardner makes free throw 1 of 1

90. 3rd Quarter · 1:13

    Myron Gardner makes 9-foot driving floating jump shot

91. 3rd Quarter · 6.1

    KJ Martin makes free throw 1 of 2

92. 3rd Quarter · 6.1

    KJ Martin makes free throw 2 of 2

93. 3rd Quarter · 0.3

    Jaylen Clark makes running layup

94. 4th Quarter · 11:32

    Ryan Conwell makes 10-foot driving floating jump shot (Myron Gardner assists)

95. 4th Quarter · 10:43

    Vladislav Goldin makes 4-foot running dunk (Ryan Conwell assists)

96. 4th Quarter · 10:28

    Bez Mbeng makes running layup (Myron Gardner assists)

97. 4th Quarter · 10:11

    Vladislav Goldin makes 4-foot alley oop dunk (Myron Gardner assists)

98. 4th Quarter · 9:53

    Zyon Pullin makes free throw 1 of 2

99. 4th Quarter · 9:53

    Zyon Pullin makes free throw 2 of 2

100. 4th Quarter · 9:41

     Ryan Conwell makes free throw 1 of 3

101. 4th Quarter · 9:41

     Ryan Conwell makes free throw 2 of 3

102. 4th Quarter · 9:41

     Ryan Conwell makes free throw 3 of 3

103. 4th Quarter · 9:00

     Vladislav Goldin makes tip shot

104. 4th Quarter · 8:49

     Zyon Pullin makes driving layup

105. 4th Quarter · 8:28

     Ryan Conwell makes free throw 2 of 2

106. 4th Quarter · 7:50

     Ian Schieffelin makes 4-foot layup (Vladislav Goldin assists)

107. 4th Quarter · 7:43

     Norchad Omier makes free throw 1 of 2

108. 4th Quarter · 7:43

     Norchad Omier makes free throw 2 of 2

109. 4th Quarter · 7:08

     Norchad Omier makes 25-foot three point jumper (Isaiah Evans assists)

110. 4th Quarter · 6:43

     Ryan Conwell makes 22-foot three point jumper (Bez Mbeng assists)

111. 4th Quarter · 6:32

     Bez Mbeng makes free throw clear path 1 of 2

112. 4th Quarter · 6:22

     Ryan Conwell makes free throw 1 of 2

113. 4th Quarter · 6:22

     Ryan Conwell makes free throw 2 of 2

114. 4th Quarter · 6:10

     Isaiah Evans makes 25-foot three point jumper (Antonio Reeves assists)

115. 4th Quarter · 5:49

     Zyon Pullin makes 11-foot driving floating jump shot

116. 4th Quarter · 5:14

     Antonio Reeves makes 26-foot running jump shot (Norchad Omier assists)

117. 4th Quarter · 4:34

     Zyon Pullin makes 5-foot two point shot

118. 4th Quarter · 4:20

     Vladislav Goldin makes layup (Myron Gardner assists)

119. 4th Quarter · 4:09

     Zyon Pullin makes 4-foot driving floating jump shot

120. 4th Quarter · 3:57

     Vladislav Goldin makes free throw 1 of 2

121. 4th Quarter · 3:57

     Vladislav Goldin makes free throw 2 of 2

122. 4th Quarter · 3:26

     Isaiah Evans makes 27-foot three pointer (Rocco Zikarsky assists)

123. 4th Quarter · 3:06

     Bez Mbeng makes 26-foot three point jumper (Ryan Conwell assists)

124. 4th Quarter · 2:51

     Zyon Pullin makes 5-foot two point shot (Norchad Omier assists)

125. 4th Quarter · 2:39

     Rocco Zikarsky makes free throw 1 of 2

126. 4th Quarter · 2:39

     Rocco Zikarsky makes free throw 2 of 2

127. 4th Quarter · 2:20

     Ian Schieffelin makes 26-foot three point jumper (Ryan Conwell assists)

128. 4th Quarter · 1:18

     Norchad Omier makes free throw 1 of 2

129. 4th Quarter · 1:18

     Norchad Omier makes free throw 2 of 2

130. 4th Quarter · 1:08

     Bez Mbeng makes 26-foot three pointer (Vladislav Goldin assists)

131. 4th Quarter · 47.8

     Ryan Conwell makes 9-foot two point shot

132. 4th Quarter · 38.5

     Rocco Zikarsky makes layup (Norchad Omier assists)

133. 4th Quarter · 14.8

     Vladislav Goldin makes two point shot

134. 4th Quarter · 14.8

     Vladislav Goldin makes free throw 1 of 1

135. 4th Quarter · 2.3

     Antonio Reeves makes 7-foot driving floating jump shot