IN LESS THAN A SECOND
TOWNS NEGATES CURRY RALLY SAVES T’WOLVES; IRVING LIFTS CELTICS
Minnesota led by nine with 1:41 remaining in the extra period before Curry made three 3-pointers during an 11-2 run, including the tying one from the corner with 0.5 second left.
But Towns was fouled by Kevin Durant on the ensuing inbound pass. He made the first free throw to give him 15 points, missed the second and time expired as Towns secured the offensive rebound.
Curry made 11 3-pointers and scored 37 points for the Warriors, who dropped into a tie with Denver for the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Durant added 23 points.
In Boston, Kyrie Irving hit a driving layup with 0.5 second left and Boston beat Indiana 114-112 to move into fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Both teams have identical 45-31 records, but the Celtics lead the regular-season series 2-1, giving them the current inside track on home-court advantage in a first-round series.
Irving finished with 30 points and five assists. He has scored at least 30 points in six of his last seven games. Al Horford added 19 points and seven rebounds. Aron Baynes had 13 points and 13 rebounds.
If the current standings hold, the teams would meet in the first round. Their final regular-season meeting is Friday in Indiana.
In Oklahoma City, Jamal Murray scored 27 points and Denver beat Oklahoma City 115-105.
Nikola Jokic added 23 points and 16 rebounds for the Nuggets, who won all four meetings with Oklahoma City this season. Denver entered the night one game behind Golden State for the best record in the Western Conference.
Russell Westbrook had 27 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, and Paul George had 25 points and nine rebounds for the Thunder. OTHER NBA RESULTS: PORTLAND 118 ATLANTA 98; UTAH 128 WASHINGTON 124; LA LAKERS 129 CHARLOTTE 115.
MINNEAPOLIS – Karl-Anthony Towns made a free throw with 0.5 second remaining in overtime after Stephen Curry led a frantic rally to tie the game, lifting the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 131-130 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday night.