Basketball: D'Angelo Russell's late offence leads Wolves past Thunder
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D'Angelo Russell scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half.
PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES/TWITTER
OKLAHOMA (REUTERS) - Malik Beasley scored 24 points to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 106-103 win over the host Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday (Feb 5).
D'Angelo Russell scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half, including the final five Minnesota points to snap a two-game losing streak.
Minnesota closed the third quarter with a 15-4 run to build its largest lead of the game at nine points, 85-76, entering the fourth quarter. The Timberwolves hit five three-pointers in the final 3:33, including two each by Russell and Jaylen Nowell.
The Thunder chipped away to tie in midway through the fourth on Justin Jackson's 3-pointer.
Oklahoma City went more than three minutes without a field goal, allowing Minnesota to jump ahead by six.
The Timberwolves had several chances to extend the lead, but Oklahoma City hung around.
After missing a three-pointer that was chased down by Kenrich Williams, Al Horford drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key to tie it with 26 seconds left.
The Thunder had a chance to take the lead after Hamidou Diallo stole the in-bounds pass, but he missed a layup and Russell nailed the three-pointer with 2.9 seconds left to put Minnesota back ahead.
Diallo's 3-point try at the buzzer hit off the front of the rim to give the Timberwolves their first road win since Dec 26.
The Thunder were playing with just eight players - the NBA minimum.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed his second consecutive game with a left knee sprain. Luguentz Dort, who left in the first quarter of Wednesday's win over Houston with knee soreness, was out with left knee soreness.
Theo Maledon, who started the last five games after George Hill injured his thumb, was held out due to health and safety protocols.
Horford scored a season-high 26 points to lead the Thunder. Diallo had 16 points and a career-high 10 assists.
The Timberwolves were without Karl-Anthony Towns for the 11th consecutive game after Towns tested positive for Covid-19.
Before the game, Minnesota coach Ryan Saunders said Towns was "ramping up" his activity, but there was no set date for Towns' return.
