Luke Ridnour sinks a buzzer beater as Minnesota Timberwolves stun Utah Jazz – NBA Recap
Striving for a 0.500 record before the All-Star break, the Minnesota Timberwolves - trailing by 16 points entering the last nine minutes of the game - staged a brilliant comeback to beat the Utah Jazz 100-98 right at the buzzer.
The win was capped by a brilliant one handed floater from Luke Ridnour, who finished the game with 17 points including 10 in the last 7:22. However, he was not the only architect of the remarkable win. J.J. Barea, the point guard,
who has been playing under the shadow of Ricky Rubio this season, showed some of his last season magic. With the Wolves desperate for an inspiration the Puerto Rican rose to the challenge.
Barea, who finished with 22 points including 5 of 6 from the long range, scored 11 points in the last frame including three treys, the last among which made it a four point game, 85-89. Rookie Derrick Williams took over after that.
He made a bank shot to make it 87-89 and after Jazz increased their lead to 93-90 one and a half minute later, he accounted for a putback, drawing a foul from Paul Millsap in the process. Williams made the free throw and followed it with another two to give
Minnesota a 95-93 lead.
Jazz weren’t willing to die down though and with seven seconds to go, Al Jefferson made a jumper to tie the game at 98. Minnesota called a timeout and when they returned Ridnour produced the magic shot.
"Luke knocks that down all the time," Wolves coach Rick Adelman, who seems to have transformed this side said. "The floater, he knows he's got to get it off before he gets to the big guys. That was unbelievable, in traffic, getting
around the guy and knocking it down. Couldn't be happier for him."
Kevin Love and Rubio didn’t have a great outing. Love was cold from the floor, going 3-of-14 for 10 points with 10 rebounds. Rubio was 7 points and 6 dimes, but also committed 6 turnovers. Nikola Pekovic had a double-double with
15 points and 13 boards while Williams ended with 13 points.
The loss was a tough one for the Jazz, who have now lost three on a trot. Josh Howard, who had 19 points on the night, was disappointed;
"It's a tough one, just hands down," Howard said. "That's something that's going to be on your mind for a little bit."
Jazz also got 25 points and 9 rebounds from Millsap and 18 points, 11 boards from Al Jefferson. After Love started the game with a jumper, Utah reeled off a 10-0 run and finished the quarter with a 27-15 lead. They were leading
by 16 inside the last three minutes of the half but Rubio and Barea knocked down consecutive three’s to make it 37-49 for the Wolves.
Pekovic then scored 8 points in a 15-3 Minnesota run at the start of the third which made it a three point game, 52-55. Jazz however responded with a 10 point unanswered run to and then maintained their dominance to end the third
at 77-64.
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