MINNEAPOLIS — Karl-Anthony Towns had 32 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, and hit a go-ahead jump shot with 42.5 seconds left as the Minnesota Timberwolves came from behind to beat the Denver Nuggets 111-108 on Sunday.
Shabazz Muhammad came off the bench to score 20 for Minnesota, which also pulled out a last-minute comeback win against the Los Angeles Clippers in its last game. Andrew Wiggins had 24 points for the Timberwolves (16-28), who have won five of their past seven games and four in a row at home.
Gary Harris returned from an ankle injury to score 22 points and Nikola Jokic had 18 points and eight rebounds for Denver (18-25). The Nuggets had won four of their previous five games.
Denver’s recent streak has come with Jokic earning more minutes from coach Mike Malone and posting seven straight double-doubles.
The two teams, both among the five youngest in the NBA, have been led by their second-year centers. Denver has found a bit more consistency and started the night sitting eighth in the Western Conference, 3 1/2 games in front of Minnesota.
The two teams were evenly matched Sunday with neither leading by more than eight points through three quarters.
Murray scored 12 points in the second quarter, but the Timberwolves ended the half on a 16-4 run to lead by four points (62-58).
Jokic and Towns went at each other, showing their wide range of skills. Towns scored 11 points in the third quarter, including four turnaround jumpers over Jokic. But the two teams were tied heading to the fourth.
For the second game in a row, the Timberwolves pulled out another close game. Towns hit a go-ahead shot with 45 seconds in the last game against Los Angeles.
Minnesota scored 31 points on 18 Denver turnovers and withstood a suddenly explosive Nuggets offense that had six players score in double figures.
NOTES: Minnesota PG Ricky Rubio missed the game because of personal reasons. Rubio is expected to join the team tomorrow as it travels to Phoenix. Kris Dunn started in place of Rubio. … Denver was also without its starting point guard as Emmanuel Mudiay missed the game because of low back pain. It was just the second game this season Mudiay has missed. He didn’t travel to Minnesota. Jameer Nelson made his eighth start of the season. … Nuggets SG Gary Harris returned to the starting lineup after missing the past two games with a right ankle sprain. Coach Mike Malone said the team would monitor Harris’ minutes. … Denver averaged 123.8 points per game and shot 53.1 percent over its previous five games. … The Nuggets return home to face the Utah Jazz on Tuesday. The Timberwolves go on the road for one game against the Suns on Tuesday.