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Timberwolves erase 25-point deficit to defeat Thunder 131-128 in overtime

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Timberwolves erase 25-point deficit to defeat Thunder 131-128 in overtime

The Minnesota Timberwolves completed a fearless comeback win for the ages Monday night.

Minnesota erased a 25-point third-quarter deficit against the Western Conference’s top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder (46-11) to pick up a 131-128 overtime road victory at Paycom Center.

With the win the Wolves (32-27) snap a two-game skid and, more importantly, inch closer to the LA Clippers for the sixth spot in the Western Conference standings.

With just under 20 seconds remaining in the overtime period, Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander attacked the rim, where he was met by Minnesota star Anthony Edwards, who swatted Gilgeous-Alexander’s shot with 13 seconds remaining.

The Timberwolves’ Terrence Shannon Jr. recovered the loose ball en route to a Minnesota timeout with 10.4 seconds left. Following two made free throws by Naz Reid to put the Wolves ahead by 3, Gilgeous-Alexander hoisted a contested off-the-dribble 3-pointer to tie it, but the miss completed an epic comeback for Minnesota.

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With just under four minutes to go, Jalen Williams converted a layup to give the Thunder a 16-point margin and what appeared to be enough to seal another victory. The Timberwolves had other ideas.

Williams’ field goal was the last Oklahoma City would make in regulation, and the Wolves caught just enough fire to spark a comeback in the waning minutes of regulation — all without Edwards. Inside the final minute of the fourth quarter, Jaden McDaniels converted an and-1 layup over Thunder guard Alex Caruso, tying the game with 12 seconds left. On the ensuing possession, Nickeil Alexander-Walker missed a game-winning floater attempt at the buzzer, leading to overtime.

McDaniels led Minnesota with 27 points, 10 rebounds and four assists and Reid added 22 points and 11 rebounds. Edwards finished with a near triple-double, contributing 17 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists to round out three starters finishing in double-figures. Alexander-Walker added 21 points and five rebounds while Shannon Jr. tallied a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double off the bench.

Gilgeous-Alexander also neared a triple-double with a 39-point, 10-rebound, eight-assist effort on an efficient 11-of-20 shooting from the field. Williams had 27 points and Aaron Wiggins finished with 19 points and seven rebounds in the loss.

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What this means for Timberwolves

Minnesota has been one of the worst clutch teams in the league this season. The Wolves have lost 21 games in clutch time, defined as within five points in the final five minutes. This game looked like it was getting nowhere near clutch time until an unheralded group rallied them.

With Edwards on the sideline with a sore calf, coach Chris Finch said he nearly pulled the plug when they were down 19 points with 6:28 to play. But Shannon Jr. converted a three-point play and another layup to cut it to 12 with just under five minutes to play.

“When we got it down to 12, I thought we had a chance,” Finch said. “I wouldn’t have necessarily put money on us winning, but I thought at that point we had a chance.”

This was the largest fourth-quarter deficit overcome in franchise history, per Elias. Minnesota also is just the second team since 2002-03 to come back to win a game after trailing by at least 16 points with 3:45 to go, per Wolves PR. The only other team to do it? The Sacramento Kings did it against Minnesota in 2020.

Finch stuck with a five that included Shannon Jr., Rob Dillingham, Alexander-Walker, McDaniels and Reid, and that group rallied to force overtime. The Wolves also were missing starters Julius Randle (groin), Donte DiVincenzo (toe) and Rudy Gobert (back), but Minnesota found a way to push through for what could be a season-defining win.

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This season has been disjointed as the Wolves have tried to move on from Karl-Anthony Towns. But one thing this team has never done is give up. There is a fiber to them that merits seeing this thing through. After losing to Houston and Oklahoma City in close games coming out of the break, the Wolves needed this one to show their fans that it’s not time to give up just yet.

“We kept fighting. The team fights. It always has,” Finch said. “We don’t always play the prettiest basketball, but it’s been fighting for a long, long time.” — Jon Krawczynski, senior writer

Finch’s moves finally paid off

Finch has come under criticism from some Wolves fans with the team struggling to regain the form it had last season on the way to the Western Conference finals. He has not always been able to find the right lineup combinations. He also owns part of the team’s clutch time woes.

But Finch made several huge decisions in the fourth quarter to help win this one. First, the Wolves started to blitz Gilgeous-Alexander to force the ball out of his hands early in the possession. They had deployed a similar strategy in their previous two wins over the Thunder, but Finch said he didn’t want to use the same approach at the start of this game because he figured OKC would be ready for it.

He finally went to it in the fourth, flustering the Thunder. Gilgeous-Alexander had only nine points on 3-of-6 shooting in the fourth quarter and overtime. His teammates only scored 17 points during that time, allowing the Wolves to roar back.

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Finch also decided to keep Edwards on the bench for much of the comeback. The Wolves star had struggled shooting in the game, including missing four free throws. Edwards used a therapeutic massager on his calf throughout the fourth quarter and felt good enough to get in for the final few minutes in overtime when he had that enormous block.

Like he rarely has this season, Finch rode the young players and it paid off for him in a big win. — Krawczynski.

McDaniels shines while offense struggles

While the rest of his team couldn’t buy a bucket for most of the night, McDaniels carried the offense. He showed more playmaking chops than he ever has.

Edwards and Reid couldn’t find their shooting touch, so McDaniels put it all on his slim shoulders. He made 9 of 16 shots and all nine free throws.

“I saw growth,” Reid said. “I was struggling, Ant was struggling. He was the only one getting to his spots, making shots and rebounding.”

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McDaniels is often the fourth or fifth option on offense when the Wolves are fully healthy, but he is showing he is capable of much more. — Krawczynski

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(Photo: William Purnell / Getty Images)

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ESPN’s Stephen A Smith hears boos from WrestleMania 42 crowd

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ESPN’s Stephen A Smith hears boos from WrestleMania 42 crowd

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Danhausen’s curse may be real after all – just ask Stephen A. Smith and the New York Mets.

While the latter dropped their 10th game in a row, Smith got his share of the curse on Saturday night during Night 1 of WrestleMania 42. Smith was in attendance for WWE’s premier event of the year and heard massive boos from the crowd.

Stephen A. Smith attends WrestleMania 42: Night 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 18, 2026. (Andrew Timms/WWE)

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Smith was sitting ringside to watch the action. The ESPN star appeared on the videoboard above the ring at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. He appeared to embrace the reaction and smiled through it.

The boos came after Danhausen appeared on “First Take” on Friday – much to the chagrin of the sports pundit. Smith appeared perplexed by Danhausen’s appearance. Smith said he heard about Danhausen and called him a “bad luck charm.”

Danhausen said Smith had been “rude” to him and put the dreaded “curse” on the commentator.

WWE STAR DANHAUSEN SAYS METS ‘CURSE’ ISN’T EXACTLY LIFTED AS TEAM DROPS NINTH STRAIGHT GAME

Stephen A. Smith attends WrestleMania 42: Night 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 18, 2026. (Andrew Timms/WWE)

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Smith is far from the only one dealing with the effects of the “curse.”

Danhausen agreed to “un-curse” the Mets during their losing streak. However, he told Fox News Digital earlier this week that there was a reason why the curse’s removal didn’t take full effect.

“I did un-curse the Mets. But it didn’t work because, I believe it was Brian Gewirtz who did not pay Danhausen. He did not send me my money so it did not take full effect,” Danhausen said. “Once I have the money, perhaps it will actually work because right now it’s probably about a half of an un-cursing. It’s like a layaway situation.”

Danhausen enters the arena before his match against Kit Wilson during SmackDown at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on April 10, 2026. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

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On “Friday Night SmackDown,” WWE stars like The Miz and Kit Wilson were also targets of Danhausen’s curse.

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After 55 years as a broadcaster in L.A., Randy Rosenbloom is leaving town

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After 55 years as a broadcaster in L.A., Randy Rosenbloom is leaving town

It’s time to reveal memories, laughs and crazy times from Randy Rosenbloom’s 55 years as a TV/radio broadcaster in Los Angeles. He’s hopping in a car next Sunday with his wife, saying goodbye to a North Hollywood house that’s been in his family since 1952 and driving 3,300 miles to his new home in Greenville, S.C.

“When I walk out, I’ll probably break down,” he said.

He graduated from North Hollywood High in 1969. He got his first paid job in 1971 calling Hart basketball games for NBC Cable Newhall for $10 a game. It began an adventure of a lifetime.

“I never knew if I overachieved or underachieved. I just did what I loved,” he said.

Randy Rosenbloom (left) used to work with former UCLA coach John Wooden for TV games.

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(Randy Rosenbloom)

John Wooden, Jerry Tarkanian and Jim Harrick were among his expert commentators when he did play by play for college basketball games. He called volleyball at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games for NBC and rowing in 2004. He’s worked more than 100 championship high school events. He did play by play for the first and only Reebok Bowl at Angel Stadium in 1994 won by Bishop Amat over Sylmar, 35-14.

“There were about 5,000, 6,000 people there and I remember thinking nobody watched the game. We ended up with a 5.7 TV rating on Channel 13 in Los Angeles, which is higher than most Lakers games.”

He conducted interviews with NFL Hall of Famers Gale Sayers and Johnny Unitas and boxing greats Robert Duran, Thomas Hearn and Sugar Ray Leonard. He’s worked with baseball greats Steve Garvey and Doug DeCinces. He called games with former USC coach Rod Dedeaux. He was in the radio booth for Bret Saberhagen’s 1982 no-hitter in the City Section championship game at Dodger Stadium. He was a nightly sportscaster for KADY in Ventura.

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Randy Rosenbloom, left, with his volleyball broadcast partners, Kirk Kilgour and Bill Walton.

Randy Rosenbloom, left, with his volleyball broadcast partners, Kirk Kilgour and Bill Walton.

(Randy Rosenbloom)

He was the voice of Fresno State football and basketball. He also did Nevada Las Vegas football and basketball games. He called bowl games and Little League games. He was a public address announcer for basketball at the 1984 Olympic Games with Michael Jordan the star and did the P.A. for Toluca Little League.

Nothing was too small or too big for him.

“I loved everything,” he said.

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He called at least 10 East L.A. Classic football games between Garfield and Roosevelt. He was there when Narbonne and San Pedro tied 21-21 in the 2008 City championship game at the Coliseum on a San Pedro touchdown with one second left.

Probably his most notable tale came when he was doing radio play-by-play at a 1998 college bowl game in Montgomery, Ala.

“I look down and a giant tarantula is crawling up my pants,” he said. “My color man took all the press notes, wadded them up and hit the tarantula like swinging a bat.”

Did Rosenbloom tell the audience what was happening?

“I stayed calm,” he said.

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Then there was the time he was in the press box at Sam Boyd Stadium and a bat flew in and attached itself to the wooden press box right next to him before flying away after he said, “UNLV wins.”

Recently, he’s been putting together high school TV packages for LA36 and calling travel ball basketball games. He’ll still keep doing a radio gambling show from his new home, but he’s cutting ties to Los Angeles to move closer to grandchildren.

“I’m retiring from Los Angeles. I’m leaving the market,” he said.

Hopefully he’ll continue via Zoom to do a weekly podcast with me for The Times.

He’s a true professional who’s versatility and work ethic made him a reliable hire from the age of 18 through his current age of 74.

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He’s a member of the City Section Hall of Fame and the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. He once threw the shot put 51 feet, 7 1/2 inches, which is his claim to fame at North Hollywood High.

One time an ESPN graphic before a show spelled his name “Rosenbloom” then changed it to “Rosenblum” for postgame. It was worth a good laugh.

He always adjusts, improvises and ad-libs. He expects to enjoy his time in South Carolina, but he better watch out for tarantulas. They seem to like him.

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Becky Lynch enters exclusive WWE club with Women’s Intercontinental Championship win at WrestleMania 42

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Becky Lynch enters exclusive WWE club with Women’s Intercontinental Championship win at WrestleMania 42

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Becky Lynch entered an atmosphere no other WWE women’s superstar has ever reached as she won the Women’s Intercontinental Championship over AJ Lee on Saturday night at WrestleMania 42.

Lynch became the first person to hold the Women’s Intercontinental Championship three times after she pinned Lee. She first won the title against Lyra Valkyria in June 2025 and then again against Maxxine Dupri in November.

Becky Lynch celebrates with the belt after defeating AJ Lee during their women’s Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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She dropped the belt to Lee at the Elimination Chamber, sparking a monthslong feud with her.

Lee gave Lynch the chance at the title in the weeks prior to WrestleMania 42. But it appeared Lee played right into Lynch’s plans. Despite arguing with referee Jessica Carr for most of the match, Lynch was able to tactfully tear down a rope buckle and use it to her advantage.

Lynch hit Lee with a Manhandle Slam and pinned her for the win.

WWE STARS REVEAL WHAT MAKES WRESTLEMANIA SO SPECIAL: ‘IT’S THE SUPER BOWL OF PRO WRESTLING’

AJ Lee reacts after losing to Becky Lynch in their Women’s Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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It’s the second straight year Lynch will leave Las Vegas as champion. She returned to WWE at WrestleMania 41, teaming with Valkyria, to win the women’s tag titles. She will now leave Allegiant Stadium as the women’s intercontinental champion.

Lynch is now a seven-time women’s champion, three-time women’s intercontinental champion and two-time tag team champion.

Becky Lynch withstands AJ Lee during their Women’s Intercontinental Championship match on night one of WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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Lee’s reign as champion ended really before it could really begin. WrestleMania 42 was her first appearance at the event in 11 years. It’s unclear where Lee will go from here.

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