With under 10 minutes remaining, Washington’s successful free throws narrowed the deficit to one point. Yet, the Timberwolves surged ahead, adding ten more points in just 3 minutes. The score now stood at 40-32; the Mavericks needed to elevate their game. Derrick Jones Jr. did just that as he held each possession with determination. His prowess showed with back-to-back 22-foot three-pointers to level the score at 42.
Going into the second half with the score tied at 49, both teams were one step closer to a hard-fought victory. Gafford’s early six points in the first two minutes provided the blue and white an opportunity to be in the driver’s seat. The Mavericks remained on top for the first half of the third quarter. However, Towns and Edwards orchestrated a comeback with their joint efforts, securing a two-possession lead for the Timberwolves, which they held onto for the remainder of the quarter.
Photo Cred: NBA
Heading into the final quarter with a 78-73 score, both teams were still in the running for the win. Tensions began to rise as both teams gave their all on either side of the court. In the final minutes of the game, the Timberwolves’ shots came out more successful and advanced them to finish with a 5-point win. Anthony Edwards was a dominant force in contributing to the Timberwolves’ success as he finished the night with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists.
