National Basketball Association
Minnesota 119, Miami 111
When: 8:00 PM ET, Friday, April 16, 2021
Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Officials: #25 Tony Brothers, #27 Mitchell Ervin, #62 JB DeRosa
Attendance: 1638

After losing its past two home games by a combined 55 points, the host Minnesota Timberwolves used a big fourth quarter to upset the Miami Heat 119-111 Friday night at Target Center in Minneapolis.

The Heat, which came into the night fighting for a playoff spot at seventh in the Eastern Conference standings, ended its four-game road trip with a third consecutive loss.

Minnesota has beaten Miami in its past five meetings and in six of the previous seven.

The teams meet again in Miami next month.

Minnesota, which had the worst record in the league entering the game, was getting blown out after the first period but bounced back with a solid second to make it a game.

The game was tied at halftime, but a Goran Dragic 3-pointer gave Miami a five-point lead going into the fourth.

Minnesota took over the game in the fourth, going on a 16-3 run punctuated by a 3-pointer from center Karl-Anthony Towns to make it 106-99.

Towns had missed the previous two home losses to Brooklyn and Milwaukee due to personal reasons. He had 24 points and five rebounds -- and hit all four attempts from long distance against the Heat.

He fouled out when he blocked Jimmy Butler with 1:51 left with Minnesota holding a six-point lead.

Minnesota shot 41.7 percent (15 of 36) from 3-point range and outscored the Heat 31-18 in the fourth. Minnesota also outscored Miami 23-5 in second-chance points as it out-rebounded the Heat 45-33.

Aside from Towns, the Timberwolves were paced by Ricky Rubio's 17 points and 16 from Naz Reid. Four other Timberwolves scored in double figures, including Juancho Hernangomez (14), Anthony Edwards (12), D'Angelo Russell (11) and Josh Okogie (10).

Miami was led by Butler, who came close to recording a triple-double with 30 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Trevor Ariza (21 points) and Bam Adebayo (17) also led the Heat. Dragic added 15 off the bench and Duncan Robinson scored 11.

The Timberwolves had a rough first quarter but made it a game by outscoring Miami by 11 in the second as the game was tied at halftime 61-61.

Edwards and Rubio led Minnesota with 10 points apiece in the opening half. Ariza paced the Heat with 16; Butler had 14.

Butler ended the first quarter with 11 points off 5-for-7 shooting as Miami led 37-26 into the second.

Miami shot 68.4 percent from the field in the first quarter and forced seven turnovers.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Miami   Minnesota
Jimmy Butler 30 Scoring Karl-Anthony Towns 24
Jimmy Butler 8 Assists Anthony Edwards 5
Jimmy Butler 10 Rebounds Jarred Vanderbilt 14
Jimmy Butler 12 Free Throws Made Ricky Rubio 5
Jimmy Butler 3 Steals Ricky Rubio 2
Trevor Ariza 2 Blocks Karl-Anthony Towns 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Miami 111 48.8 14-34 19-26 33 33 5 11 14
Minnesota 119 51.9 15-36 20-29 30 45 2 8 21
Upcoming Games
  • Minnesota will play their next game on the road against L.A. Clippers. The Timberwolves have a W/L % of .133 after a win and .310 after a loss.
  • Miami will play their next game at home against Brooklyn. The Heat have a W/L % of .586 after a win and .407 after a loss.