Timberwolves Allow Another Comeback to Occur in Final Moments and Lose to Kings in OT 117-112
It was a night that will haunt the Minnesota Timberwolves for weeks to come. The kind of loss that sticks in your craw, a bitter taste that no amount of mouthwash can rinse away. In the heart of Sacramento, inside the Golden 1 Center, the Timberwolves didn’t just lose a game; they experienced a full-blown, gut-wrenching collapse, falling 117-112 in overtime to the Kings.
This wasn’t just any loss. It was déjà vu of the cruelest kind. Just days after fumbling away an eight-point lead in the final minute against Phoenix, Minnesota did it again. They held a seemingly comfortable 10-point advantage with only three minutes left on the clock. The win was there for the taking. It was in their grasp. And then, it slipped through their fingers like sand.
The air in the arena was thick with tension as the final moments of regulation unfolded. You could feel the collective gasp of the 16,957 fans as DeMar DeRozan, a seasoned veteran with ice in his veins, stepped to the free-throw line. Swish. Swish. He calmly sank both shots, tying the game at 101 with 34 seconds remaining. The Timberwolves’ lead, once a fortress, had crumbled into dust.
Edwards Shines, But Can’t Carry the Timberwolves Alone
Anthony Edwards was nothing short of spectacular. The man was a walking bucket, a human highlight reel, pouring in 43 points with a ferocity that bordered on desperation. He attacked the rim, pulled up for jumpers, and fought with every ounce of his being to drag his team across the finish line. He was a warrior on an island, a solo act in what was supposed to be a team sport.
But as the clock wound down, the weight of the entire franchise seemed to rest on his young shoulders. With the game on the line, he took the shot—a jumper that could have been the game-winner. It rimmed out. The basketball gods can be cruel, and on this night, they were downright merciless to Minnesota.
Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo chipped in with 17 points apiece, and Naz Reid added a valuable 15 off the bench. But it wasn’t enough. It’s a tough pill to swallow when your star player puts on a masterclass, and you still walk away with an ‘L’ next to your name.
Kings Capitalize on Timberwolves’ Mistakes
The Kings smelled blood in the water and pounced. DeMar DeRozan was the closer, scoring 33 points and hitting all 15 of his free throws with unnerving precision. He was the steady hand that guided the Kings through the storm.
Keegan Murray was a beast on the boards, pulling down 14 rebounds to go with his 26 points, while Malik Monk provided a 22-point spark off the bench. The Kings‘ bench outscored the Timberwolves’ reserves, a critical difference in a game decided by the slimmest of margins. They were hungrier, more composed when it mattered most, and they made Minnesota pay for every single mistake.
The final possession of regulation was a chaotic scramble. Missed shots from both DeRozan and Monk meant the game was headed to overtime, giving the Timberwolves a brief, five-minute reprieve. But the damage was already done. The psychological blow of blowing another late lead was too much to overcome. The Kings rode their wave of momentum, outscoring Minnesota 16-11 in the extra period to seal the victory.
A Troubling Pattern for the Timberwolves
For the Timberwolves, this loss is more than just a blemish on their now 10-7 record. It’s a glaring red flag, a symptom of a deeper issue. Championship-contending teams don’t let games like this slip away. They close them out. They execute down the stretch. They find a way to win, even when things get messy.
Right now, the Timberwolves are doing the opposite. They are finding ways to lose. This pattern of late-game meltdowns is a troubling sign for a team with high aspirations. The mental fortitude required to succeed in the pressure cooker of the NBA playoffs is forged in regular-season battles like these. And right now, Minnesota is failing the test.
As they head to Oklahoma City for their next matchup, the Timberwolves have some serious soul-searching to do. They need to look in the mirror and ask themselves what kind of team they want to be. Are they the team that builds a lead through talent and effort, or the team that crumbles when the pressure is on? Because until they can find a way to win the games they’re supposed to win, they’ll remain a team full of potential, forever stuck on the outside looking in.
