Timberwolves Stage Historic Comeback to Stun Thunder in Overtime Thriller

Posted : 25 February 2025

The Minnesota Timberwolves pulled off a stunning 25-point second-half comeback to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder 131-128 in overtime on Monday night. Anthony Edwards delivered the game-saving moment, blocking Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s potential go-ahead shot in the final seconds of overtime.

Jaden McDaniels led Minnesota with 27 points, while Naz Reid contributed a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 21 points, and Edwards finished with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists, helping the Timberwolves bounce back from their 130-123 loss to the Thunder the previous night.

Despite Gilgeous-Alexander’s impressive performance—39 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists—he was unable to seal the win for Oklahoma City, missing a late three-point attempt that could have forced another overtime.

The Timberwolves’ comeback was historic, as they became just the second team in the play-by-play era to win after trailing by at least 16 points in the final four minutes of regulation, according to ESPN Research. The only other team to achieve such a feat was the Milwaukee Bucks, who erased a 21-point deficit against the Toronto Raptors in January 2023.

Minnesota’s head coach Chris Finch praised his team’s resilience, especially against the Thunder’s top-ranked defense, which he described as physically aggressive. "They foul all the time," Finch said, expressing frustration over what he perceived as inconsistent officiating.

However, he credited his players for adjusting, as Minnesota earned 39 free throw attempts—their highest in over a year. The Timberwolves played without key starters Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle, making the comeback even more remarkable. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City was without Chet Holmgren, who was resting after recently returning from injury, and lost Isaiah Hartenstein in the second quarter due to a facial contusion.

The Thunder had built what seemed like an insurmountable 22-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, but Minnesota stormed back, outscoring them 41-19 in the final period. Rookie Terrence Shannon Jr. played a crucial role in the rally, scoring 11 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter.

Edwards, dealing with a calf issue, was largely absent from the comeback but returned in overtime to deliver the decisive block. Celebrating in the tunnel postgame, Edwards declared he had played "with a bad calf," highlighting the grit that defined Minnesota’s incredible victory.

Timberwolves Stage Historic Comeback to Stun Thunder in Overtime Thriller

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