Remember those games where you turn off the TV, convinced it’s over, only to check your phone later and wonder what the hell happened? Wednesday night in Houston was one of those. The Minnesota Timberwolves, down 13 points with just 3:09 left on the clock, pulled off the largest overtime comeback in NBA history, beating the Rockets 110-108. It wasn't pretty for most of the night, but man, did it end with a bang.
The Rockets, who led for nearly 40 minutes, looked like they had this one locked up. Fred VanVleet hit a jumper, extending their lead to 108-95. The Target Center faithful, or what was left of them on a Wednesday, were heading for the exits. Then something clicked. Or maybe the Rockets just completely imploded. Either way, Minnesota went on a ridiculous 15-0 run to close out regulation and overtime. Anthony Edwards, who struggled for much of the game, found his rhythm when it mattered most. He finished with 23 points, but it was his seven points in the final three minutes of regulation that truly sparked the comeback. Karl-Anthony Towns hit a clutch three-pointer to tie the game at 108-all with 29 seconds left in overtime, a shot that felt like it had the weight of the entire franchise on it.
Edwards’s ability to turn it on late is becoming a trademark, but his overall game against the Rockets was a mixed bag. He shot just 8-of-25 from the field, and frankly, he looked frustrated for long stretches. The fact that the Wolves could win a game like this with their star shooting so poorly speaks volumes about their defensive grit and the Rockets' inability to close. Rudy Gobert, the anchor of that defense, had a monster night with 21 points and 16 rebounds, plus three blocks. His presence in the paint during that final run made every Rockets possession a nightmare. Jalen Green, for all his flashes of brilliance, couldn't buy a bucket in the clutch. He missed a potential game-winning three at the end of regulation and then clanked a wide-open look in overtime. That's the difference between a developing talent and a closer.
Here's the thing: while the Wolves deserve credit for not quitting, this game exposed some lingering issues. They were down 17 points in the third quarter, allowing the Rockets to shoot 50% from the field in the first half. A top-tier team, which the Wolves aspire to be, shouldn't be letting a rebuilding squad like Houston dictate the pace for three-quarters of the game. You can’t rely on historic comebacks every night. The foul trouble was also a concern; Towns picked up his fourth foul early in the third, forcing him to the bench and disrupting their offensive flow. Minnesota's depth, particularly when Naz Reid is out, is tested when their bigs get into early foul trouble.
This victory, while thrilling, feels more like a wake-up call than a definitive statement. It pushes the Timberwolves to 20-5, keeping them atop the Western Conference standings. But it also highlights that they can be vulnerable, especially when their offense isn't clicking. They can't always rely on opponents choking away massive leads. Real talk: if they want to make a deep playoff run, they need to start these games with the same intensity they finished this one. The defensive effort is there, but the offensive consistency still wavers.
My hot take? Despite this historic comeback, I still think the Nuggets are the team to beat in the West. The Wolves are good, very good, but their reliance on individual heroics rather than sustained team execution sometimes leaves them vulnerable. However, if Edwards can consistently tap into that late-game magic, and the defense continues to suffocate opponents, they absolutely have the potential to reach the Conference Finals. I'm predicting the Wolves finish as a top-two seed in the West, but they'll need more consistent starts to their games if they want to truly challenge Denver.