The Heat trailed by as many as 14 before a reserve-heavy lineup rallied to take a one-point lead with 14 seconds left. Antonio Reeves answered with a floater at 0:02, and Miami's final three missed at the horn, handing Minnesota a 125-124 preseason win.
No Stars, Real Fight
Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Andrew Wiggins, Klay Thompson and Davion Mitchell all sat out for rest, leaving the reserves to carry the matchup against a Minnesota group that was missing its own regulars too. The result was a track meet: 19 lead changes, 8 ties, and a 14-point deficit for Miami in the second quarter before Ryan Conwell and Vladislav Goldin dragged it back.
The Final Minute
Rocco Zikarsky scored off a Norchad Omier feed to make it 123-121 with 38 seconds left. Goldin answered with an offensive rebound, a putback layup and the free throw that followed, putting Miami up 124-123 with 14 seconds to go. Antonio Reeves beat that with a driving floater at 0:02, and Conwell's three at the horn missed, 125-124 final.
Who Closed It
Spoelstra's closing five were Bez Mbeng, Ian Schieffelin, Myron Gardner, Conwell and Goldin, the same group still on the floor when it ended. Gardner's 27 minutes produced a team-high +9, Conwell's 32 minutes produced +6, and Mbeng matched that +6 in 21. Tre Donaldson dropped to -10 in just 15 minutes, and Pelle Larsson finished at -9 despite scoring 14.
Grades
Conwell: A-minus. Nine assists, two steals and 22 points in starter's minutes, running the finish both ways. Goldin: B-plus. Eighteen points on efficient shooting, plus the putback and free throw that briefly won it. Jovic: B. Seven makes on 11 shots and three steals, but three turnovers and a minus-3 held him back.
What It Means
The loss drops Miami to 2-1 in exhibitions, with no bearing on any race and nothing to chase yet. The reserves proved they can hang with a Minnesota team that also rested regulars, which matters more once the real schedule opens October 21 against these same Timberwolves. The Heat get four days before hosting the Nets on October 14.
Why didn't Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo play against the Timberwolves?
Both were held out for rest, along with Andrew Wiggins, Klay Thompson and Davion Mitchell, in a preseason game Miami's bench nearly won anyway.
Who led the Heat in the loss to Minnesota?
Ryan Conwell scored 22 points with nine assists, and Vladislav Goldin added 18 points, including the late putback that briefly put Miami ahead.
