Joel Embiid returns but Timberwolves edge Sixers in double overtime
Karl-Anthony Towns #32 and D’Angelo Russell #0 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game against the Houston Rockets at Target Center on October 20, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Harrison Barden/Getty Images/AFP
Taurean Prince hit a layup with 4.8 seconds left in double overtime to lift the Minnesota Timberwolves past the host Philadelphia 76ers 121-120 on Saturday.
D’Angelo Russell led the Timberwolves with 35 points while Karl-Anthony Towns added 28 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out. Anthony Edwards contributed 19 points and Naz Reid had 13. Jarred Vanderbilt swept 14 rebounds.
Joel Embiid returned from a three-week COVID-19 absence to produce 42 points and 14 rebounds for the Sixers. Embiid had his shot blocked as time expired in the second overtime.
What a finish in Philly 😱@Timberwolves and @sixers were trading clutch buckets late in the 2OT thriller! pic.twitter.com/VHyvuk4gni
— NBA (@NBA) November 28, 2021
Tobias Harris added 17 points, Tyrese Maxey had 15 and Seth Curry 14.
Towns dropped in all six of his shots as the Timberwolves moved out to a 35-20 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Minnesota maintained its strong offensive game and built a 56-41 advantage at halftime thanks in large part to 59 percent shooting — 23 of 39.
Even with Embiid back, the Sixers looked completely out of sync, shot 31.4 percent and missed 10 of their 14 treys.
The Sixers came out ragged to open the third, turned the ball over on consecutive possessions and fell behind 62-43.
The Timberwolves held on for a slim 72-70 lead at the end of the third.
The Sixers committed turnovers on their first two fourth-quarter possessions and Minnesota capitalized with a 5-0 spurt for a seven-point advantage.
Russell drove to the basket and followed with a trey for an 87-76 lead with 8:20 remaining.
Philadelphia didn’t take long to respond with eight straight points to get within 88-84 after Embiid knocked down a 3-pointer.
When Matisse Thybulle stole the ball and dribbled in from halfcourt for a dunk, the game was tied at 95 with 4:06 to go.
After several shaky possessions from each team, Embiid hit a trey from the wing for a 98-95 lead with 1:55 left.
But Minnesota regained the advantage 100-98 with a jumper by Towns and a 3-pointer by Edwards with 1:12 remaining.
The Timberwolves had the final shot in regulation, but Edwards missed a trey and the game went to overtime tied at 100.
