The Miami Heat narrowly defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 95-94 on Sunday night, snapping their three-game losing streak, thanks to a clutch layup-and-1 from Nikola Jovic in the final seconds. Jovic’s pivotal drive, which tied the game, coupled with his successful free throw, gave the Heat their first lead since early in the second half, ultimately securing the hard-fought victory.
With only 7.8 seconds left on the clock, Jovic—who was appearing off the bench for the first time this season—drove to the basket with four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert subbed out. Uncontested at the rim, Jovic’s layup evened the score, and his foul shot put the Heat ahead by one. The Timberwolves had a chance to reclaim the lead, but Mike Conley’s three-point attempt at the buzzer fell short, ending Minnesota’s three-game winning streak.
Jovic finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, showing impressive poise in crunch time. Tyler Herro led Miami with 26 points, continuing his stellar offensive season. Herro’s consistent scoring extended his streak of double-digit performances to a career-best 39 consecutive games, dating back to January 8.
The Heat managed the win without star forward Jimmy Butler, relying on a high-pressure defense to disrupt Minnesota’s rhythm. Despite committing 23 turnovers, Miami’s defensive effort was highlighted by season-highs in steals (14) and blocks (nine), smothering Minnesota’s offense as much as their own endured disruptions.
The Timberwolves, meanwhile, struggled with turnovers and shooting accuracy, logging 20 giveaways and connecting on just 3 of 15 from beyond the arc in the opening minutes. However, they clawed back from an early 12-point deficit to make it a one-point game at halftime (52-51) and eventually gained momentum midway through the third quarter. A three-pointer from Naz Reid capped a 15-0 Timberwolves run, giving them their first lead since early in the game at 64-63. Reid, who went 4-for-7 from deep, was a bright spot in Minnesota’s offense, while Jaden McDaniels added another highlight, tipping in a missed shot from Conley to give the Timberwolves a brief lead with just nine seconds left.
Anthony Edwards had a team-high 22 points for Minnesota, though he struggled with shooting, going 8-for-24 from the field. Gobert’s absence in the final moments proved critical, as he led the team in rebounds, grabbing six of their season-best 16 offensive boards.
Miami overcame a shaky night offensively, overcoming their own miscues with a relentless defensive showing. Their season-highs in steals and blocks proved essential in keeping Minnesota’s offense off-balance, even as they coped with their own challenges. Jaime Jaquez Jr. returned from a three-game absence, providing a needed lift.
Minnesota’s offense was derailed by turnovers, though they showed resolve with a strong rebounding effort, led by Gobert’s six offensive boards. Despite a late lead and a strong third-quarter surge, they couldn’t close out in the final seconds, as key shots fell short.
Naz Reid’s three-pointer in the third quarter capped a strong Timberwolves rally and gave Minnesota a 64-63 lead, their first since early in the game. However, Miami was able to weather the storm and ultimately reclaimed control in the game’s final possession.
Herro’s scoring streak reached a career-best 39 games with double-digit points, maintaining his reliable presence on offense despite the Heat’s struggles elsewhere.
Miami will look to build on the win as they visit Detroit on Tuesday. Minnesota, meanwhile, heads to Portland for a two-game stint beginning on Tuesday night.
