Jokic looked to have done enough to secure victory for Denver after stitching together his 31st triple-double of the season, comprising 61 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, but could not deny the Timberwolves who snatched a dramatic 140-139 win.
But in an epic finale, the Timberwolves snatched victory in the final seconds of the second period of overtime.
Two Jokic free throws put Denver 139-138 ahead with 18 seconds left on the clock, and the Nuggets appeared poised to stretch that lead to three points when Russell Westbrook drove up the court for what should have been a routine running layup.
But Westbrook’s attempt with nine seconds remaining bounced off the glass and the Wolves’ Nickeil Alexander-Walker grabbed the rebound to give Minnesota one last possession.
Westbrook then compounded the error of his miss by giving up a personal foul as Alexander-Walker attempted a three-pointer on the buzzer.
It meant Alexander-Walker had three attempts from the foul line to win the game and the Canadian duly stepped up to make the first two free throws, clinching a momentous victory.
Anthony Edwards led Minnesota’s scoring with 34 points while Alexander-Walker and Julius Randle both finished with 26 points apiece.
The Minnesota win leaves the battle for Western Conference playoff places on a knife edge heading into the final days of the regular season, which concludes on April 13.
The Timberwolves are in seventh place in the West with a 44-32 record, just behind sixth-placed Memphis, who are also 44-32.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Dustin Bradford/Getty Images
