NEW YORK – They say things come in threes.
Just don't tell Timberwolves point guard Tyus Jones.
"I sure hope there isn't a third," he said. "Knock on wood."
A replacement for injured starter Jeff Teague these past four games, Jones dislocated his left pinkie finger late in a loss at Milwaukee last week and needed two stitches to close a split lip sustained with 40.4 seconds left in Wednesday's 98-97 loss at Brooklyn.
The Wolves trailed 96-94 when Jones cut to free himself for an inbounds pass and Nets forward Quincy Acy's moving arm caught him right in the mouth as Jones ran toward the pass that never came because a whistle sounded first.
"I was just cutting to get open," Jones said. "It was a weird, freak accident."
Acy was called for a foul away from the ball, which gave the Wolves a free throw and an ensuing possession as well. Jimmy Butler made the penalty free throw, then used the possession to get to the line for two more free throws, his 17th and 18th of the night.
When Butler made all three, the Wolves led 97-96 with 33 seconds left. But Nets point guard Spencer Dinwiddie's driving, 12-foot fadeaway shot with 9.7 seconds stood as the winner when Butler's 22-foot pullup shot just before the final buzzer missed.
