During a stoppage in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, in Miami, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) converses with centers Rudy Gobert (27) and Naz Reid (11). (Photo by Lynne Sladky/AP)(AP/Lynne Sladky)
Miami (AP) — On Monday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves shut down the Miami Heat 112-108 in the second half behind 32 points from Anthony Edwards and 18 more from Karl-Anthony Towns.
For the Timberwolves, Rudy Gobert pulled down 16 rebounds, Mike Conley scored 12 points, and Naz Reid scored 15.
With their 20-5 record, Minnesota now shares the NBA’s top record with idle Boston. After falling down by as many as 17 points in the first half, the Timberwolves surrendered just 42 points in the second half.
Following lengthy injury absences, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo combined for 47 points for the Heat; Herro scored 25, Adebayo scored 22, Jimmy Butler scored 15, Duncan Robinson scored 14, and Josh Richardson scored 13.
Herro came back after an absence of eighteen years.
Before settling for a 66-54 lead at the half, Miami led by as many as 17. Herro had 17 points in the win. It was the second-largest halftime deficit for the Timberwolves and the third-most points Minnesota had given up by halftime this season. Going into the game, Minnesota was the NBA’s best team in terms of field goal % allowed and points allowed per game.
The third quarter saw the return of the defense that had been absent in the first half.
Miami scored just nine points in the first 8:04 of the second half, missing ten of its fourteen field goals during that time, as the game swiftly tightened up. By winning 23–17 in the quarter, the Wolves had halved the deficit entering the fourth.
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