The Minnesota Timberwolves delivered one of the most thrilling comebacks of the NBA season, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 131-128 after overtime on February 24, 2025. The Timberwolves, who trailed by as much as 25 points during the game, mounted a remarkable effort to seize victory at Paycom Center.
Early on, as the game unfolded, it appeared to tilt heavily in favor of the Thunder. With the scoreboard reading 80-55 and just over seven minutes left in the third quarter, Minnesota seemed poised for defeat. The situation looked grim when head coach Chris Finch pulled star player Anthony Edwards from the game with precisely 3:41 remaining. Yet, this move sparked something within the Timberwolves.
Fueled by tenacity and teamwork, the Timberwolves launched what would turn out to be a historic comeback. They exploded offensively, outscoring the Thunder 41-19 during the fourth quarter, culminating in a series of spectacular plays. It was Jaden McDaniels who capped this thrilling action with an incredible three-point play, converting an and-one layup with just 11.9 seconds left. This shot tied the game at 121-121, pushing the contest to overtime.
“We kept fighting,” Finch said after the match. “The team fights, it always has. We don’t always play the prettiest basketball, but it’s been fighting for a long, long time.”
During the overtime period, with the Timberwolves trailing 126-125, Naz Reid stepped up and made two free throws, bringing Minnesota back on top 129-128. This sequence set the stage for some late-game heroics from Edwards, who, displaying defensive prowess, blocked Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s shot as the clock wound down. Gilgeous-Alexander had dazzled earlier, scoring 39 points and becoming instrumental for the Thunder, but faced with Edwards’ defense, he faltered.
Terrence Shannon Jr. and Jaden McDaniels showed out, leading the scoring surge with McDaniels finishing the game with 27 points and Shannon adding 17. Nickeil Alexander-Walker picked up key points off the bench, scoring 21 and sealing the win with two free throws following Edwards' block.
Despite his reduced minutes due to injury, Edwards recorded 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists, showing his all-around ability and on-court leadership.
Oklahoma City started the game strongly, with Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 14 of his points at the free-throw line, alongside impressive performances from teammates like Jalen Williams, who contributed 27. But after the Thunder led 102-80 at the end of the third quarter, they could not maintain their momentum.
While many expected the Thunder, one of the top teams in the Western Conference, to consolidate their lead, they ended up missing nine straight shots during the decisive moments of the fourth quarter, failing to score with the game on the line.
The resilient Timberwolves, meanwhile, took full advantage of this opportunity. After Reid's free throws gave them the late lead, the defensive efforts by Edwards against Gilgeous-Alexander underscored the Timberwolves’ commitment to winning, particularly coming through under pressure.
“What’s crazy is I don’t even think I jumped high,” Edwards stated humorously after the dramatic block. “When I blocked it, I was definitely talking a lot of trash, for sure.”
From the coaching perspective, Finch’s decision to bench Edwards paid off as it provided the rest of the squad, particularly McDaniels, the chance to spark the comeback without the burden of star expectations. With McDaniels' steady shooting and timely plays, the entire Timberwolves team demonstrated immense grit.
This victory marks only Minnesota's second win from their last six games, both of which were against the Thunder, representing not only progress but victory against one of the NBA's toughest teams.
The Timberwolves will look to build on this momentum, using the overtime win as a catalyst for upcoming games. Their improvement signals hope for fans eager for playoff contention. Meanwhile, the Thunder, now trailing with only two losses in their last 11 games, will seek to regroup and find their footing against future opponents.