Timberwolves erase 15-point deficit in final five minutes to steal victory in Houston on Anthony Edwards’ late 3

The Timberwolves were well on their way to another disappointing performance on Friday in Houston.

Fresh off a Christmas Day victory in Dallas, Minnesota was getting outplayed by a more physical and athletic Rockets team through the game’s first 44 minutes. Houston had effectively run Minnesota off the floor. The Wolves trailed 108-93 with 4:10 to play.

And then chaos ensued.

Minnesota finished the game on a 20-4 run, capped by an Anthony Edwards dagger 3-pointer off the bounce from the corner with 20 seconds to play to steal a 113-112 victory in Houston.

The end of the game featured Houston missing shots, Minnesota running the other way and the Rockets — who played Thursday in New Orleans — simply not having the energy to even bother to get in the Wolves’ way. It was eerily similar to the vibe of the fourth quarter of Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals a year ago in Denver, with the same joyous result for Minnesota.

Minnesota got off to another slow offensive start, scoring just 22 points in the first frame despite hot shooting from Anthony Edwards.

But, as has frequently been the case of late, Minnesota found its footing in the middle of the game. The Wolves exploded for 35 points in the second quarter, thanks in large part to the sharp shooting of Donte DiVincenzo.

The reserve has struggled with his outside shot for much of the season, but found it in the second quarter Friday. He knocked down four triples in that frame alone. DiVincenzo finished the night 6 of 10 from deep. The Wolves led by five at the break.

And the wheels fell off in the third. Minnesota scored just 11 points over the final nine minutes of the third quarter as Houston led by eight after three. And Minnesota simply couldn’t get stops in the fourth. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch cycled through one lineup combination after another. Finally, Minnesota found a scoring, pace-based lineup that took advantage of Houston’s fatigue.

Still, it looked like Houston would have enough to hold Minnesota off. But Alperen Sengun — who led the Rockets with 38 points and 12 rebounds — missed multiple free throws in the final minute and Edwards came through with the difficult hit when Minnesota needed it most. He scored 24 points, while Julius Randle paced Minnesota with 27 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.