Field Level Media
Nov 8, 2019
Andrew Wiggins capped a season-best 40-point effort with a key 3-pointer with 23.5 seconds remaining in overtime Friday night as the host Minnesota Timberwolves overcame a career-high 52-point performance by D'Angelo Russell to edge the Golden State Warriors 125-119.
Wiggins' point total was seven shy of his career-best and the eighth time he's topped 40. His previous high this season had been 30 in Minnesota's loss at Memphis on Wednesday.
Russell's 52 points topped the 44 he poured in for Brooklyn against Sacramento last March. It was the NBA's third 50-point game of the season, with James Harden having gone for 59 at Washington and Kyrie Irving 50 against these same Timberwolves.
After blowing a late lead in regulation, the Warriors took one final lead at 113-112 on a dunk by Willie Cauley-Stein with 4:05 remaining in overtime.
The game was tied at 116-all after a Russell 3-pointer with 3:03 to go, then Josh Okogie put the Timberwolves ahead for good with a tip-in with 2:35 to play.
Wiggins eventually extended the lead to four at 123-119 with his back-breaking 3-pointer with 23.5 seconds to go.
The Timberwolves scored the last four points of regulation, but sandwiched a pair of free throws and a layup around a Warriors turnover with 14.4 seconds left. With Minnesota in a full-court press following Karl-Anthony Towns' free throws, Robert Covington tied up Alec Burks for a jump ball.
Covington controlled the tip and Wiggins converted the Golden State miscue into a game-tying layup with 5.6 seconds left.
The Warriors, who led by eight two minutes into the final period, had a shot at a win, but Russell misfired on a 3-pointer shortly before the horn.
Towns (20 points, 14 rebounds) and Covington (17 points, 11 rebounds) recorded double-doubles for the Timberwolves, who snapped a two-game losing streak. Jake Layman and Okogie added 14 points apiece.
Russell had team highs in rebounds with nine and assists with five to complement his scoring.
Alec Burks had 18 points and Eric Paschall 12 before fouling out for the Warriors, who lost their second straight.
--Field Level Media