Timberwolves Ended First Half With Unbelievable Sequence But Just Missed the Buzzer

The Wolves were so close to pulling off the play of the year against the Rockets on Friday night.
Timberwolves Edwards and McDaniels celebrate a near-incredible basket to end the first half against the Rockets
Timberwolves Edwards and McDaniels celebrate a near-incredible basket to end the first half against the Rockets / Screengrab via NBA on ESPN

The Minnesota Timberwolves nearly came away with the most incredible play of the NBA season at the end of the first half against the Houston Rockets on Friday.

In the final seconds of the half, Rockets guard Jalen Green drove to the basket, and the Minnesota defense collapsed on him to force a steal. Timberwolves wing Jaden McDaniels came up with the steal as he dove to the ground for the loose ball. While on the ground, McDaniels flipped the ball over his head to Nickeil Alexander-Walker who was on his way to the Wolves' basket.

The pass, understandably, was a bit too far ahead of Alexander-Walker, so he hurled it back to Jaylen Clark before stepping out of bounds. Clark immediately tapped the ball up toward the hoop, which dropped after rattling around the rim. There was a problem, though, as the shot came milliseconds too late. No basket.

Timberwolves players simultaneously celebrated the play and circled their hands to beg for the play to get challenged. Anthony Edwards hugged McDaniels with a huge smile for the incredible effort. But the play still didn't count, as the ball left Clark's hand just a moment too late.

Houston ended up beating Minnesota 121-115, but the Wolves may have just had the play of the year, even if it never counted.


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Blake Silverman
BLAKE SILVERMAN

Blake Silverman is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the WNBA, NBA, G League and college basketball for numerous sites, including Winsidr, SB Nation's Detroit Bad Boys and A10Talk. He graduated from Michigan State University before receiving a master's in sports journalism from St. Bonaventure University. Outside of work, he's probably binging the latest Netflix documentary, at a yoga studio or enjoying everything Detroit sports. A lifelong Michigander, he lives in suburban Detroit with his wife, young son and their personal petting zoo of two cats and a dog.