The Phoenix Suns delivered one of the most thrilling comebacks of the young NBA season, stunning the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-113 on Friday night thanks to Collin Gillespie's clutch jumper in the final seconds.
Dramatic Final Minute Seals Suns Victory
With just 6.4 seconds remaining on the clock, Collin Gillespie drove into the lane and sank a contested 10-foot jumper to put Phoenix ahead for good. The game-winning shot capped a remarkable late rally that saw the Suns overcome a seven-point deficit in the final 73 seconds.
Minnesota appeared to have the game secured when they led 111-104 with 1:13 left, but Phoenix mounted an furious comeback. The Suns pulled within one point at 113-112 when Jordan Goodwin converted a layup with 21.4 seconds remaining.
The Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards, who had scored 41 points in an outstanding individual performance, missed two critical free throws with 12.7 seconds left, giving Phoenix the final possession they needed to complete the comeback.
Wild Momentum Swings Throughout Game
The game featured dramatic shifts in momentum from start to finish. Phoenix built an 18-point lead in the first half and took a comfortable 62-49 advantage into halftime, with Gillespie scoring 16 of his 20 points before the break.
However, Minnesota came out firing in the third quarter, quickly erasing the 15-point halftime deficit. Edwards took over the period, scoring 19 points in the quarter alone on 7-of-9 shooting as the Timberwolves grabbed an 82-81 lead heading into the final period.
It was a difficult night for Suns star Devin Booker, who struggled with his shooting throughout the game. Booker finished with 16 points on 4-of-18 shooting and committed nine turnovers before fouling out with more than three minutes remaining. His frustration boiled over as he received a technical foul while exiting the court.
Key Performances and NBA Cup Implications
Dillon Brooks led the Suns in scoring with 22 points before also fouling out, while Williams contributed 19 points to the winning effort. The victory improved Phoenix's record to 2-0 in NBA Cup play, while Minnesota dropped to 2-1.
The game was marred by turnover issues for Phoenix, who committed 27 turnovers as a team, nearly costing them the victory before their late-game heroics.
Julius Randle had a chance to win the game for Minnesota at the buzzer, but his three-point attempt missed the mark, sealing the dramatic victory for Phoenix.
Other NBA Action
In other NBA games, the Dallas Mavericks defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 118-115 behind Cooper Flagg's career-high 29 points. Naji Marshall hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 30.7 seconds left against his former team.
The Denver Nuggets edged the Houston Rockets 112-109 with Nikola Jokic recording 34 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists, while Jamal Murray added 26 points and 10 assists.
Portland beat Golden State 127-123 as Deni Avdija posted 26 points and a career-high 14 assists, overcoming Stephen Curry's 38-point performance that included nine three-pointers.
Additional results saw Cleveland defeat Indiana 120-109, Toronto rout Washington 140-110, Brooklyn win 113-105 in Boston, Miami triumph 143-107 in Chicago, and Oklahoma City cruise to a 144-112 victory in Utah.
