Timberwolves give up late lead in OT loss to Pacers

MINNEAPOLIS — Domantas Sabonis had 36 points, 17 rebounds and 10 rebounds, and Malcolm Brogdon added 32 points and nine rebounds as the Indiana Pacers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 134-128 in overtime on Wednesday night.

Sabonis, Brogdon and the Pacers erased a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Indiana trailed 98-88 and eventually took a five-point lead in the fourth. Sabonis knocked down a pair of free throws with 11.1 seconds left in regulation to help send the game to overtime tied at 121.

“We got some key stops, and that helped our offense,” said Sabonis, whose 36 points were a career high.

The Pacers played their second straight overtime game, coming off an OT loss to Chicago on Monday. After giving up the first five points in overtime Monday, Indiana jumped out to a quick five-point lead Wednesday in OT.

Brogdon hit a 3 to start overtime, and Sabonis followed with a basket in the paint for a 5-0 run.

“That’s exactly what the guys were talking about at the end of regulation, getting into that last five minutes and really digging in,” Pacers coach Nate Bjorkgren said. “I thought we came out more assertive on offense to start that (overtime).”

Karl-Anthony Towns had 30 points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota. Malik Beasley added 31 points in his first game of the season off the bench, and Ricky Rubio finished with a season-high 20 points and 13 assists.

Minnesota lost its second game in as many nights after falling to the Los Angels Lakers 112-104 Tuesday.

“I thought we had some tired guys towards the end,” Minnesota coach Ryan Saunders said.

Timberwolves rookie Anthony Edwards had a good look at a game-winning shot at the end of regulation, but his 3-pointer rimmed out as time expired.

Minnesota led 73-69 at halftime. Both teams struggled offensively in the third quarter. Neither team topped 20 points in the period as the Timberwolves moved out to a 92-86 lead heading into the final period. Minnesota was 6 of 22 from the floor in the third.

The Wolves led by five in the final minute of regulation after a basket by Towns made it 121-116, but the Pacers made a late push thanks to a 3-pointer by Jeremy Lamb and two free throws by Sabonis.

“As a young team, we’ve got to know that in winning time, you can’t make any mistakes,” Rubio said. “The momentum can change so much. I think we made a lot of mistakes down the stretch.”

Coming off a career-high 28 points a night earlier, Edwards was quiet offensively. The No. 1 draft pick made some noise late in the first half with a big dunk, but shot 3 for 15 overall.

Naz Reid had 18 points off Minnesota’s bench. The Timberwolves’ reserves outscored Indiana’s reserves 57-39.

TIP-INS

Pacers: Doug McDermott returned to action after missing Indiana’s last game with a right knee injury. He had eight points. … Sabonis notched his 25th double-double of the season. … Brogdon was 6 for 7 from 3-point range.

Timberwolves: Rookie Jaden McDaniels got his first career start. McDaniels had 11 points. … Minnesota tallied a 40-point second quarter for the second time this season. The Timberwolves also scored 43 points in the second quarter against Denver on Jan. 5.

UP NEXT

Pacers: Indiana heads to Houston for a game against the Rockets on Saturday. The Pacers won their previous matchup against Houston 114-107.

Timberwolves: Minnesota concludes its three-game homestand hosting Toronto on Friday. It’s the second game in six days between the teams, with the Wolves beating the Raptors on Valentine’s Day.