NBA: Phoenix Stuns Minnesota with an 8-Point Burst, Jokic Outmuscles the Rockets

The latest round of the NBA In-Season Tournament delivered a night packed with drama, headlined by a wild finish in Arizona where the Phoenix Suns snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
With just one minute left, the visitors held an eight-point cushion — and the Suns were without their star guard Devin Booker, who had fouled out with six personals. But interim head coach Jordan Ott saw his team mount a furious comeback, mixing grit with a slice of good fortune. The turning point came when Anthony Edwards missed both free throws with 14 seconds remaining, leaving the door open for a final, decisive blow.
It came from one of the leading Sixth Man candidates, Collin Gillespie, who buried the game-winning shot to complete a stunning 114–113 turnaround. With this victory, Phoenix move level with Oklahoma City at the top of their tournament group.
OKC Roll Past Utah Despite Strong Start from Svi Mykhailiuk’s Jazz
Utah Jazz, featuring Svi Mykhailiuk, fell to Oklahoma City Thunder despite a brilliant opening quarter that saw them surge ahead 44–30. But the second half once again exposed Utah’s biggest weakness — defending the three-point line. A barrage of OKC triples buried the Jazz, who eventually collapsed 112–144. Mykhailiuk finished with eight points and three turnovers as Utah maintained their status as the league’s worst team at guarding the perimeter.
Brooklyn Shock Boston as Porter Jr. Drops 33
In one of the night’s biggest surprises, the struggling Brooklyn Nets — a patchwork squad under coach Jordi Fernández — produced another miracle, stunning the Boston Celtics 113–105 on the road. Riding a wave of recent publicity, Michael Porter Jr. delivered a sensational 33-point performance, punishing Boston on all three levels.
Western Conference Heavyweights: Jokic Dominates, Portland Outduels Golden State
The marquee clashes out West didn’t disappoint. The Denver Nuggets edged past the Houston Rockets 112–109 behind a near-triple-double from Nikola Jokic (34 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists). Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers held off the Golden State Warriors in a high-scoring showdown, winning 127–123.
