The Minnesota Timberwolves pulled off an impressive victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, snapping their seven-game winning streak with a 116-101 win on Thursday night. The short-handed Timberwolves, missing key players, showcased resilience and determination as they took down the Western Conference leaders just before the NBA All-Star break.
Elsewhere, the Golden State Warriors overcame a spirited Houston Rockets comeback to secure a 105-98 win, with Stephen Curry leading the charge. Meanwhile, Dallas, New Orleans, and Los Angeles also picked up crucial wins in an action-packed night of NBA basketball.
Timberwolves Dominate Thunder to Snap Winning Streak
The Oklahoma City Thunder entered the game with the best record in the NBA (44-10) and were riding high on a seven-game winning streak. However, they faced an aggressive Timberwolves side that led from start to finish.
Playing without Rudy Gobert, who was sidelined with back spasms, the Timberwolves needed someone to step up. Naz Reid delivered, posting a double-double with 27 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists. Anthony Edwards added 23 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, while Jaden McDaniels contributed 21 points in the victory.
“We were down a couple of guys,” Reid said. “We had big Rudy out, so everybody had to step up big, and we all did.”
Naz Reid & Anthony Edwards combine for 50 in the @Timberwolves W!
Naz: 27 PTS, 14 REB, 7 AST, 61.1 FG%
Ant: 23 PTS, 7 REB, 7 AST, 3 STL pic.twitter.com/JhiBJyIsI6— NBA (@NBA) February 14, 2025
For the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 points but failed to reach 25+ points for the first time in 22 games. Despite having six players in double figures, the Thunder never recovered from Minnesota’s explosive 37-point first quarter.
Warriors Hold Off Rockets Late Comeback
The Golden State Warriors survived a late Houston Rockets rally to secure a 105-98 victory, with Stephen Curry leading the team with 27 points. The Warriors, playing on the second night of a back-to-back, needed a strong closing effort to seal the win.
Curry struggled with efficiency, making just 7-of-17 shots from the field, but he drained five three-pointers, helping Golden State maintain control. Jimmy Butler, recently acquired by the Warriors, contributed 19 points and eight rebounds in the win.
The Rockets, despite missing key players, pushed the Warriors to the limit. Aaron Holiday stepped up with 25 points, and Houston trimmed a 24-point deficit to just two in the fourth quarter before Golden State pulled away in the final minutes.
“We just wanted to go into the break with a win,” Curry said. “It was kind of a mental battle after a tough loss last night, but we kept our focus and finished strong.”
Mavericks Overcome Heat Despite Injuries
The Dallas Mavericks followed up their gritty win over the Warriors with another hard-fought 118-113 victory over the Miami Heat. Dante Exum led the way with 27 points, while Max Christie added 19.
Dallas was without Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson, who joined an already long injury list that included Anthony Davis. The newly acquired big man suffered an adductor strain in his first game since being traded from the Lakers.
Despite being short-handed, the Mavs survived a 40-point explosion from Tyler Herro and outlasted Miami in a game that featured 32 lead changes.
Pelicans Snap 10-Game Losing Streak in Overtime Thriller
The New Orleans Pelicans ended their 10-game skid with a 140-133 overtime win over the Sacramento Kings. CJ McCollum put on a scoring clinic, dropping 43 points, including 11 of the Pelicans’ 13 points in overtime.
The Kings, led by Zach LaVine’s 32 points and 10 assists, fought hard but could not contain McCollum down the stretch. Domantas Sabonis added 22 points and 28 rebounds, but the Pelicans finally ended their losing streak with a clutch performance.
Clippers Rally from 20 Down to Beat Jazz in Overtime
The Los Angeles Clippers completed a dramatic comeback, overcoming a 20-point deficit to beat the Utah Jazz 120-116 in overtime.
Norman Powell was the hero for the Clippers, scoring nine of his 41 points in overtime, while James Harden added 32 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists.
Norm Powell and James Harden take care of business in Utah combining for 73 PTS in the @LAClippers OT win!
Powell: 41 PTS | 5 3PM | 50.0 FG%
Harden: 32 PTS | 10 REB | 7 AST pic.twitter.com/waxkm7xCu6— NBA (@NBA) February 14, 2025
For the Jazz, Lauri Markkanen and Kyle Filipowski each scored 20 points, but Utah could not hold on to their first-half lead, where they shot an impressive 62.9% from the field.
What’s Next as the All-Star Break Approaches?
With the NBA All-Star break just days away, teams will get a much-needed rest before resuming their push for playoff positioning. The Thunder and Cavaliers currently hold the best record in the league (44-10), but several teams, including the Timberwolves, Clippers, and Mavericks, are gaining momentum as the second half of the season approaches.
As the league’s biggest stars prepare for All-Star weekend, fans can expect high-intensity matchups when play resumes next week. Which teams will emerge as true contenders in the race for the playoffs? The battle for supremacy is just getting started.
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