The Phoenix Suns pulled off one of the most improbable comebacks of the NBA season, erasing an eight-point deficit in the final 69 seconds to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-113 on Friday, November 21, 2025, at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. With 6.4 seconds left, Collin Gillespie sank a contested 10-foot jumper — his 20th point of the night — to give the Suns the lead after Anthony Edwards missed two crucial free throws. The shot capped a stunning 9-0 run in just over a minute, turning what looked like a sure Wolves win into a heartbreaker for Minnesota.

From Comfortable Lead to Collapse

With 1:09 remaining, the Timberwolves led 113-105. It felt over. Edwards, who had 41 points — including 19 in the third quarter alone — had carried his team through a brutal first half deficit. He’d silenced the crowd with a driving layup to take the lead in the third, then poured in shots like he was playing a video game on easy mode. But in the final minute, everything unraveled. The Suns’ defense, which had looked porous all night, suddenly locked in. A steal by Dillon Brooks led to a fast-break layup by Jordan Goodwin. Then came the turning point: Edwards, who had been perfect from the line all season, clanged both ends of a one-and-one with 12.7 seconds left. The arena erupted. The Wolves’ lead was gone. The pressure shifted.

Booker’s Struggles, Gillespie’s Rise

While Edwards was putting on a scoring clinic, the Suns’ four-time All-Star Devin Booker was having one of his worst nights of the season. He finished with just 16 points on 4-of-18 shooting and committed nine turnovers — a league-high total that now sits at 57 for the year. He fouled out with 3:17 left, throwing up his hands in frustration and earning a technical for arguing a call on his way off the floor. The Suns’ offense, which had been stagnant all night, looked lost without him. But Gillespie didn’t flinch. He’d already knocked down four three-pointers by halftime, and in the final minutes, he became the team’s engine. He drove through traffic, absorbed contact, and released the shot with ice in his veins. No celebration. No theatrics. Just business.

Turnovers, But Not Too Many

The Suns committed 27 turnovers — a number that should have cost them the game. They were sloppy. They turned the ball over on four straight possessions in the third quarter. They missed open looks. They lost focus. But here’s the twist: they didn’t panic. While Minnesota had entered the game as 4.5-point favorites and had won their last four matchups against Phoenix, the Suns had been quietly building momentum. They’d won eight of their last 10 games, and despite their turnover issues, they’d covered the spread in 14 of their 15 games this season. The Wolves? They’d been 9-1 overall when scoring more than 120 points. They were supposed to win. They were supposed to control the pace. But basketball doesn’t care about stats — it cares about who makes the shot when it matters most.

The Ripple Effect

The loss dropped Minnesota to 10-6 on the season and handed them their first defeat in NBA Cup Group Play. For Phoenix, it was their second win in the tournament, improving to 2-0 and cementing their place as a dangerous team despite their flaws. The game also shattered Minnesota’s 4-0 head-to-head dominance over the Suns — a streak that had included three straight wins against the spread. The emotional toll on the Wolves is real. Edwards, who carried them offensively, now has to live with two missed free throws that cost his team a game they led by eight with less than a minute left. For the Suns, it’s a statement: they can win ugly. They can win with grit. They can win when their star is off. And they can win when no one expects them to.

What’s Next?

The Suns next face the Los Angeles Lakers on November 24, still searching for consistency from Booker. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, travel to Denver to face the Nuggets — a team that thrives on forcing turnovers. Minnesota will need to clean up their late-game execution, especially with Edwards drawing double teams and drawing fouls. If they can’t close out leads, their championship aspirations could unravel. For Phoenix, this win could be the spark they need. Gillespie, who averaged just 9.2 points per game before this night, is now a playoff wildcard. And if the Suns can find even half the defense they showed in those final 69 seconds, they’ll be a nightmare in the postseason.

Behind the Numbers

Here’s what the box score doesn’t tell you:

• Phoenix scored 17 points in the final 2:15 — the most in any 2:15 stretch this season.
• Edwards scored 41 points on 15-of-28 shooting, but had zero assists in the fourth quarter.
• The Suns were 1-of-12 from three in the first half — and 5-of-7 in the final 6:30.
• Minnesota’s bench scored just 12 points. Phoenix’s bench outscored theirs 31-12.
• The game’s final 1:09 was the most-watched YouTube clip of the NBA season so far, with over 2.3 million views in 48 hours.