Disastrous 3rd quarter dooms Wolves with nation watching

Giannis Antetokounmpo made more free throws than Minnesota attempted

Friday was a great day for the Timberwolves until the third quarter started. 

The nation got an up close and personal look at Minnesota via ESPN's "Timberwolves: All Access" – an all day presentation of interviews and features ahead of the 9:15 p.m. tipoff. Even the start of the game went well as Minnesota led the Bucks 57-51 at the half. 

Then the third quarter started and everything good from the day was lost in a cloud of chaos as Milwaukee hammered Minnesota 36-13 in the quarter and held on for a 112-107 win in Minneapolis.

To Minnesota's credit, they didn't quit. 

Back-to-back 3-pointers by Karl-Anthony Towns cut Milwaukee's lead to 98-92 with 4:56 left in the fourth quarter, only to have Damian Lillard drill a heavily contested, turnaround 3-pointer in front of the Minnesota bench for a 103-96 lead with under three minutes to go. 

Two consecutive 3s from Anthony Edwards cut the deficit to 110-107 before Lillard put the final nail in the coffin with a tough jumper with 9.2 seconds to play for a 112-107 lead. 

Lillard finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo also killed the Wolves with a game-high 33 points. He was 14-of-21 from the free-throw line compared to the Timberwolves attempting just 13 free throws as a team. 

Towns led Minnesota with 22 points and 14 rebounds. 

Edwards scored 28 on a rough night shooting, going 10-of-26 from the field. 

Up next: Timberwolves vs. Brooklyn Nets, Saturday at 8 p.m. CT. 

Feb 23, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center / Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports