MINNEAPOLIS — In an exciting matchup on Sunday night, Nikola Jovic stepped up to guide the Miami Heat in a thrilling 95-94 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, effectively ending Miami’s three-game losing streak. Jovic, who came off the bench for the first time this season, delivered a crucial layup followed by a go-ahead free throw with just 7.8 seconds remaining on the clock. His performance, which included 15 points and seven rebounds, proved pivotal once Rudy Gobert was substituted out, allowing Jovic to drive effectively to the hoop. The free throw granted the Heat their first lead since they were up 63-61 earlier in the game.
As the time dwindled, Mike Conley’s attempt at a three-pointer fell short, concluding a frantic last-minute possession for Minnesota, which saw their own three-game winning streak come to an end. Just before that, Jaden McDaniels had given the Timberwolves a brief advantage with a putback of Conley’s missed shot with nine seconds left on the clock.
Tyler Herro was a standout for the Heat, scoring 26 points despite the absence of star player Jimmy Butler. With a challenging shooting night for the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards managed to put up 22 points, albeit on an inefficient 8-for-24 shooting performance. Minnesota struggled early, falling behind by 12 points due to a dismal 3-for-15 start from beyond the arc, yet they managed to narrow the deficit to just one point by halftime, finishing the second quarter at 52-51.
In terms of both team performance and individual contributions, the Heat managed to counteract their 23 turnovers with impressive defensive plays, achieving season highs with 14 steals and nine blocks. Jaime Jaquez Jr. returned from a three-game absence due to illness and contributed positively to the team effort. On the other side, while the Timberwolves committed 20 turnovers and faced difficulties in shooting, their effort was somewhat salvaged by a season-best performance with 16 offensive rebounds, with Gobert grabbing six of those.
One of the pivotal moments in the game was when Naz Reid, who posted a commendable 4-for-7 from three-point range, connected on a crucial three-pointer late in the third quarter, allowing the Timberwolves to seize a 64-63 lead for the first time since holding a narrow 10-9 advantage earlier in the contest. This score came during a strong 15-0 run for Minnesota.
A notable achievement for Tyler Herro was reaching a personal milestone, as he recorded double-digit points in 39 consecutive games, including playoffs. This impressive streak commenced on January 8.
Looking ahead, the Miami Heat will be traveling to Detroit for their next game on Tuesday, while the Minnesota Timberwolves will head to Portland, with a second matchup scheduled there on Wednesday.