Wolves Beat Heat 111-109 As Wade's 3-Point Shot Attempt Misses At Buzzer
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns had 13 points and 12 rebounds and the Minnesota Timberwolves slowed Miami's push for a postseason berth with a 111-109 win over the Heat on Friday night as Dwyane Wade's 3-pointer try at the buzzer missed the mark.
Dario Saric scored 19 points for the Timberwolves, Andrew Wiggins added 18 and Gorgui Dieng finished with a season-high 19 off the bench.
Wade scored 24 points for Miami. Dion Waiters scored 22 and shot 6 of 12 from 3-point range, but the Heat missed a chance to pull into a tie with Brooklyn in the race for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference.
Miami, which has lost four of six, had 17 turnovers as Minnesota rode a big second half to the win.
The Heat led 93-92 early in the fourth, but Minnesota slowly pulled out to a six-point edge and held on to win for the third time in five games.
Wade had a steal and layup to help the Heat close within one with 10 seconds left. Keita Bates-Diop hit one of two free throw attempts and Wade's final shot bounced off the rim.
Wade's final game at Target Center was vintage in the first half. He came off the bench to score 21 points in the first two periods on 7-of-9 shooting. Miami shot 62.2% in the first half and led by as many as nine points.
Turnovers kept Minnesota in the game. The Heat had 10 turnovers in the first half that results in 14 points for the Wolves.
More sloppiness at the start the second half allowed Minnesota to charge back and take a lead. The Wolves went on an 18-6 lead run in the third that including seven points by Saric.
TIP-INS
Heat: Justice Winslow made the start for the injured Josh Richardson (left hip strain). It marked the 27th different starting lineup for Miami this season, the third-most in team history. Winslow has started 48 games this season, but came off the bench in the previous game with Goran Dragic starting. ... Derrick Jones Jr. was questionable with a right knee bone bruise and didn't play. ... Wade was presented with a wrapped gift before the game from Wolves owner Glen Taylor. Wade averaged 24.4 points in 23 career games against Minnesota. ... The Heat got 51 points from their reserves. Miami has the third-most points, assists, rebounds and steals per game this season.
Timberwolves: Minnesota became the second team in history to allow 1,000 3-pointers in a season, joining the Milwaukee Bucks, who have also done so this season. ... The Wolves are 6-32 when trailing after three periods. ... Kentucky head coach John Calipari was in attendance and sat behind Minnesota's bench. Calipari coached Towns and Miami's Bam Adebayo in college at Kentucky and Wolves guard Derrick Rose at Memphis. Rose was inactive, but stopped by to chat with Calipari during the game.
UP NEXT
Heat: At Toronto on Sunday.
Timberwolves: Host Oklahoma City on Sunday.
