MINNEAPOLIS — The Nets couldn’t purchase a cease within the first half and couldn’t make a stand on the finish of regulation, however they got here by way of in time beyond regulation Friday night time.
Spencer Dinwiddie made a game-saving block in time beyond regulation — becoming, as a result of he did all the things else for the Nets in a nervy extra-period efficiency, prepared them to a 124-123 escape over the Timberwolves earlier than a sellout crowd of 17,136 at Goal Heart.
Mikal Bridges poured in a game-high 34 factors with six rebounds, however it was Dinwiddie, who had 29 factors, 11 assists and just one turnover, who made the large performs down the stretch.
“Yeah, Spence was going loopy and simply his confidence to let him have the ball in his arms and create,” Bridges mentioned. “He scored a few instances OT, after which dimed us. So simply let him create and he’ll determine it out. You understand, we’ve simply obtained to provide him a give him a go, give him a glance. However simply him being aggressive and simply so rattling expert. So I’m simply grateful for him.”
So had been the Nets, who improved to 38-29.
Dinwiddie handed to Dorian Finney-Smith, who hit a 3-pointer with 36.8 seconds left in time beyond regulation to provide the Nets the 124-121 edge.
Then, after Anthony Edwards had reduce the result in one, Dinwiddie blocked a possible successful 3-point strive by Mike Conley with a tenth-of-a-second left on the clock.
He had a hand in each Nets level in time beyond regulation, scoring a pair of baskets and aiding on the opposite two.
“We’re a younger group,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn mentioned. “For us to have the ability to handle the sport a variety of that goes on the again of Spencer and skill to get guys in the appropriate spots for us to take benefits of matchups, which we did down the stretch after which he created pictures for himself and others.”
The Nets obtained off to yet one more gradual begin.
The Timberwolves scored the primary six factors of the night, capped when Edwards, who completed with 32 factors, obtained free for a operating dunk.
That deficit reached 12 on Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s mid-range pullup that made it 60-48 with 4:52 left earlier than halftime.
The Nets performed little protection within the first half, permitting 58.7 p.c taking pictures by Minnesota and trailing by eight earlier than they rallied.
“Truthfully I simply suppose the main target and a focus to element. We went to switching one-through-five and relied on our guards to carry up Rudy a bit,” Dinwiddie mentioned. “However whatever the defensive switches it actually had extra to do with focus and a focus to element. 68 factors within the first half is an excessive amount of. I don’t care who you’re going at.”
The Nets had been nonetheless down 80-73 with 6:41 left within the third after a free throw by Rudy Gobert (26 factors, 13 boards).
However that’s after they lastly tightened the screws and strung collectively some stops. The Nets closed the third on a 24-8 run, holding Minnesota to 2-for-12 taking pictures with a turnover on a Gobert journey.
The Nets appeared set to win earlier than Naz Reid knotted the rating at 114-114 on a protracted 3-pointer on the buzzer.
That pressured time beyond regulation, and Dinwiddie’s savvy then took over. He scored the primary basket of time beyond regulation, and after Minnesota knotted it, Dinwiddie gave the Nets the lead once more.
Conley made simply one in all two from the free throw line with 3:14 left in OT, leaving the Nets with a 118-117 lead and the ball.
However after Royce O’Neale (12 factors, 15 boards) missed a 3-point strive, the Timberwolves took benefit of the very fact Nic Claxton had fouled out, with Jaden McDaniels driving for a layup.
The Nets then had back-to-back pictures blocked, with first Dinwiddie after which Dorian Finney-Smith rejected by Edwards.
Then, Edwards hit a midrange turnaround jumper to make it 121-118 with 1:41 left. However Dinwiddie introduced the Nets again once more.
He discovered Bridges for a 3 to drag the Nets even with 1:18 left.
And after they pressured Edwards to overlook a 3-point strive, Dinwiddie drove and drew Gobert to him.
The purpose guard then handed to a wide-open Finney-Smith for what proved the successful 3 with 36.8 seconds remaining.
“I instructed Rudy he shouldn’t have helped,” Bridges mentioned.
Edwards did get unfastened for a layup to chop the Nets’ result in one.
Then, Dinwiddie drove and kicked out to a wide-open Cam Johnson within the left nook, however the ahead missed a possible dagger 3 with 10 seconds left.
However Dinwiddie made the play of the night time blocking Conley.
“Within the halfcourt you begin to go elephant looking and also you’re simply attempting to govern the sport,” Dinwiddie mentioned. “[Gobert] is an exceptional rim protector, however if you happen to can deliver him away from the rim and he’s obtained to return chase the block, then meaning you may kick out to shooters.”
And Finney-Smith buried the shot. And buried the Timberwolves.
