Ricky Rubio had just fed Andrew Wiggins, who was fouled and made two free throws. The Timberwolves were back up by three with under 2 minutes left in a game that never should have been this close, when Rubio pounced.
He'd been watching Phoenix rookie Devin Booker all night. The rookie can score. But pass? Not yet atop the skill set. Rubio knew Booker would try to hit Mirza Teletovic popping out for the pass. And Rubio was there to intercept. Seconds later he fed Zach LaVine for a dunk, the Wolves were up five with 1:43 left.
Crisis averted: Wolves 121, Phoenix 116.
Monday at Target Center the Wolves were up 20 with 1:11 left in the third quarter when they went into a 7½-minute swoon that culminated with a Teletovic three-pointer with 6:14 left that cut the lead to one. Less than three minutes later, Booker — who scored 30 — hit a 25-footer that gave the Suns a two-point lead.
But the Wolves (25-49) didn't collapse, in the process winning for the third time in four games.
Which is why interim coach Sam Mitchell couldn't decide if he wanted to be frustrated by his team's inability to hold a lead or proud of how it pulled itself out of free fall.
"I just think when we got up, there's a natural tendency to relax," Mitchell said. "I keep telling our guys, I'm getting older and grayer.''
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But Mitchell was also smiling. Wiggins had a ridiculously efficient night, managing to score 32 points on just 13 shots thanks to career highs in free throws made (17) and attempted (21). Karl-Anthony Towns scored 27 points and had 10 rebounds with five assists, though he didn't score after being hit in the eye by Jon Leuer on a third-quarter three-point play.
And then, Rubio. He chased a red-hot Brandon Knight around in the first half, when he scored 27. But Rubio was a big reason why Knight scored only three in the second half.
And then, late?
Fifteen seconds after Booker's three-pointer gave Phoenix (20-54) that two-point lead, Rubio calmly hit a three-pointer with 2:40 left. And then he duped Booker into that bad pass.
"Booker is a great player, but he's still not a good passer," Rubio said. "I saw that chance. Teletovic, I knew he was going to pop. And I took a gamble. When you take a gamble, you gotta go all for it. … And I got lucky, got the ball, and then Zach ran super fast.''
Said Wiggins: "That was a big part of the game. That changed the momentum, gave us energy.''
The Wolves were up five with 1:43 left. It wasn't over, yet. The Suns missed two free throws down the stretch and the Wolves made just enough of theirs. In the closing seconds Teletovic — who hit a game-winning three late against Minnesota on March 14 — had a similar shot to tie. This time he missed.
Knight and Booker each scored 30. Teletovic had 19.
All five starters were in double figures for the Wolves, as was Shabazz Muhammad off the bench. But there was that hiccup that nearly cost them. Much like what happened March 14, the Suns went small and the Wolves struggled, with six turnovers and 6-for-16 shooting in the fourth quarter.
"They had momentum," said Rubio, who had 17 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds. "They had everything in their favor to win at the end. But we came back stronger, played smart. It was good.''
