Heat flat against struggling T’wolves
After consecutive double-digit losses against two of the NBA’s top teams, the schedule was set up for the Miami Heat to bounce back with a matchup against the team with the league’s worst record.
But that didn’t happen. Instead, the Heat suffered one of its worst losses of the season in a 119111 defeat to the struggling Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on Friday night. It marked the third straight loss for Miami, which closed its four-game trip at 1-3.
The Timberwolves (1542) entered on a two-game losing skid that included losses by a combined total of 55 points, but found a way past the Heat.
Miami fell back to .500 at 28-28, as it battles for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference with just 16 games remaining on its regular-season schedule.
The Heat entered the fourth quarter with a fivepoint lead, but the Timberwolves won the fourth quarter 31-18 to rally for the win. HeatThe Heat’s offense was efficient, but its defense struggled throughout the game.
Miami’s rebounding issues continued, as the Timberwolves outscored the Heat 23-5 in secondchance points with the help of 10 offensive rebounds.
Jimmy Butler led the Heat with 30 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and three steals.