PHOENIX — An eight-point deficit with 66 seconds left was not enough to stop the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.
Reserve guard Collin Gillespie hit a contested 10-footer with 6.4 seconds remaining, capping a furious rally that lifted Phoenix over the Minnesota Timberwolves, 114-113, at Footprint Center. The victory was the Suns’ seventh in their past eight games and moved them to 10-6 on the season.
How the comeback unfolded
Minnesota appeared in command when Donte DiVincenzo split a pair of free throws for a 113-105 lead with 1:09 to play. The Suns struck back quickly:
- Dillon Brooks missed a three-pointer, but Royce O’Neale scooped up the offensive rebound and scored, trimming the gap to 113-107 with 49.3 seconds left.
- Gillespie stole the ensuing in-bounds pass, and Brooks fed Jordan Goodwin for a corner three, cutting it to 113-110 with 43.4 seconds to go.
- Brooks then intercepted a pass from Julius Randle; Goodwin raced for a layup, making it 113-112 with 21.4 seconds on the clock.
- Anthony Edwards missed two free throws with 12.7 seconds left, giving Phoenix a final possession.
With Brooks and star guard Devin Booker already fouled out, Gillespie handled the last shot and buried what proved to be the winner. Randle’s three-point attempt at the horn was off target, setting off a celebration as teammates swarmed Gillespie.
Voices from the floor
“They were talking too early, and I love that,” Brooks said after Minnesota’s late-game chatter backfired. “We don’t give up. Anything’s possible in this league to win games and lose games.”
Gillespie added, “We’re just super competitive. You saw a little of that at the end. Just no quit—fight until there’s no time left.”
T’Wolves coach Chris Finch lamented the collapse: “We lost our minds. Poor execution, turnovers, and we didn’t stay locked in during the last 90 seconds.”
First-year Suns coach Jordan Ott praised his club’s grit. “Just tough, gritty, competitive, together and selfless—that’s what we’ve seen from this group from Day 1,” he said.
Stat sheet
Booker endured a rough night, shooting 4-for-18 and committing a season-high nine turnovers, yet finished with 16 points. Phoenix still found a way, thanks in part to Gillespie’s late heroics and a defense that forced multiple turnovers in the closing minute.
Minnesota slipped to 9-7 with the loss.
Source: ESPN
