Five takeaways from the Miami Heat’s 95-94 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves (6-4) on Sunday night at Target Center to snap a three-game skid and improve to 1-2 on its six-game trip. The Heat (4-5) continues the trip on Tuesday against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena its first group-play game of the NBA’s second-annual in-season tournament: After falling behind by eight points with 4:59 left in the fourth quarter, the Heat used a 12-4 run to erase an eight-point deficit and tie the score at 92 with 30 seconds to play. Then a wild finish ensued.
First, the Timberwolves regained a two-point lead on a put-back layup from Jaden McDaniels with nine seconds left. But the Heat ended up making the game-winning play on a beautiful play drawn up by coach Erik Spoelstra during a timeout. With Duncan Robinson inbounding the ball, he found Nikola Jovic streaking into space thanks to a back screen set by Terry Rozier.
Jovic caught the inbounds pass and made the layup while being fouled by Nickeil Alexander-Walker to tie the score with 7.8 seconds remaining. Jovic then made the free throw to complete the game-winning three-point play and give the Heat a one-point lead.
The Timberwolves had one final opportunity to come away with the win, but Mike Conley missed a three-pointer with 2.6 seconds left. Heat center Bam Adebayo grabbed the defensive rebound as the final buzzer sounded.
The Heat’s bench immediately surrounded Jovic in celebration when the game ended. The Heat�.
