Overtime Heartbreak with a 15-0 Stunning Comeback! Durant Scores 30 Points, Misses Crucial Free Throw as Rockets Fall to Timberwolves

On March 26, the Rockets lost 108-110 to the Timberwolves in overtime on the road, dropping this critical Western Conference positioning game. Durant shot 9 out of 22, scoring 30 points with 8 assists, and missed a key free throw in overtime. In this game, Durant's career field goals surpassed Nowitzki, rising to eighth place in history. The Timberwolves led by 1 point at halftime, and Shenjing's crucial block sent the game into overtime. The Rockets unleashed a 26-2 run in the fourth quarter and overtime, leading by 13 points in overtime, but the Timberwolves staged an incredible 15-0 comeback to overtake and ultimately win. Timberwolves' McDaniels left due to injury, Gobert fouled out, and Reid was ejected.

Statistics

Rockets: Durant 30 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists; Shenjing 30 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists; Jabari-Smith Jr. 16 points, 12 rebounds; Amen 11 points, 9 rebounds, 10 assists; Shepherd 10 points, 8 rebounds; Eason 3 points, 8 rebounds; Tate 5 points

Timberwolves: McDaniels 25 points, 2 steals, 2 blocks; Randle 24 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists; Gobert 14 points, 14 rebounds, 5 blocks; Reid 14 points, 13 rebounds; DiVincenzo 17 points; Hyland 8 points, 8 assists; Conley 5 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists; Li Kaier 3 points, 6 rebounds

Player of the Game

The entire Timberwolves team were heroes, collectively completing an improbable comeback.

Milestone

After Durant made a three-pointer in the first half, his career field goals reached 11170, surpassing Nowitzki (11169) and rising to 8th place in NBA history. His next target to surpass is Shaquille O'Neal (11330) who ranks 7th.

Game Recap

In the first quarter, McDaniels hit a three-pointer, Conley made a floater, Gobert scored on a putback, DiVincenzo hit a three, and the Timberwolves started with a 10-2 run. Shenjing made a hook shot, Jabari scored on a layup, Durant scored 4 consecutive points, Hyland hit a three, Shepherd scored 5 straight points, and the Rockets narrowed the gap to 2 points. Reid and Gobert scored consecutively, Durant faced tight defense in the first quarter, shooting only 1 out of 7. At the end of the first quarter, the Timberwolves led 23-19 over the Rockets.

In the second quarter, Reid and Holiday exchanged three-pointers, Randle scored 4 straight points, Reid dunked, and the Timberwolves led by 8 points. Eason and DiVincenzo hit threes, Jabari scored 7 consecutive points, Gobert made a putback dunk. Durant hit a three, Shenjing scored on a mid-range shot and then a putback, and the Rockets reduced the deficit to 1 point. At halftime, the Timberwolves led 44-43 over the Rockets. In the first half, two Rockets players scored double-digits: Jabari with 11 points and 5 rebounds, Shenjing with 10 points; Durant shot only 2 out of 11, scoring 9 points. Only McDaniels scored double-digits for the Timberwolves, with 10 points.

After the break, Shenjing scored 4 straight points, DiVincenzo hit a three, Gobert scored on an alley-oop dunk, Durant scored 4 consecutive points, overtaking the Timberwolves. Gobert scored on a putback, Shenjing made a flying dunk, and the lead alternated between teams. Randle scored on a layup, Reid hit a three, Hyland and McDaniels scored consecutively, and the Timberwolves led by 7 points. Shenjing scored 4 straight points, Jabari hit a three, and at the end of the third quarter, the Timberwolves led 70-68 over the Rockets.

In the fourth quarter, Randle dunked for a 2+1, Amen responded with a dunk, scoring 5 straight points. Reid made a hook shot, DiVincenzo hit a three, Randle scored inside. Tate and McDaniels hit threes, Gobert dunked, Tate received a technical foul. Durant scored on a mid-range shot, McDaniels made two consecutive steals, scoring 5 points, and the Timberwolves led by 11 points. Shenjing alone scored 6 straight points, Durant dunked consecutively, then hit a mid-range shot, and the Rockets staged a 12-0 run to lead by 1 point. Randle made a floater, Gobert blocked Durant and then committed a foul on Shenjing away from the ball, fouling out. Durant made a free throw, tying the score. In the final moments, Durant made a turnover, Randle countered, Shenjing's crucial block was decisive, and both teams tied at 95, sending the game into overtime.

In overtime, Shepherd hit a three-pointer, Durant dunked. Reid received a technical foul and was ejected; after Durant made a free throw, he hit a three-pointer, Amen and Shenjing dunked, and the Rockets led by 13 points. Conley hit a three, Li Kaier scored a 2+1, DiVincenzo scored on a layup, Randle scored inside, DiVincenzo hit a three, and the Timberwolves staged a 15-0 run; Randle scored on a mid-range shot, overtaking the Rockets by 2 points, leaving only 8.8 seconds for the Rockets. Durant drew a foul but missed the first free throw; on the second free throw, he intentionally missed, the Rockets scrambled for the frontcourt ball, and with 1.1 seconds left, the Rockets did not get a shot opportunity, ultimately losing the game.

Starting Lineups

Rockets: Amen, Shepherd, Durant, Jabari-Smith Jr., Shenjing

Timberwolves: Conley, DiVincenzo, McDaniels, Randle, Gobert