Naz Reid's 27 points help lead short-handed Timberwolves past West-leading Thunder 116-101

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Naz Reid had 27 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists for the short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves in a 116-101 victory over Oklahoma City on Thursday night that stopped the Thunder's seven-game winning streak.

Anthony Edwards scored 23 points and Jaden McDaniels added 21 points to propel the Wolves (31-25) into the All-Star break with an inspired performance against the West-leading Thunder (44-10) behind a small-ball strategy necessitated by the absence of their usual starting frontcourt.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 24 points, nine assists and eight rebounds to lead the Thunder after shooting 2 for 13 in the first half.

Thunder: After beating Miami at home while Chet Holmgren rested on Wednesday, Oklahoma City had to turn around for the trip north for one more game before the break. The second pick in the 2022 draft has had a slow re-entry after a 39-game absence to a broken pelvis. Holmgren had 11 points and 12 rebounds in 30 minutes.

Timberwolves: After a two-point loss at home to short-handed Milwaukee a night earlier, Minnesota played without four of its top eight scorers and met the challenge with a burst of young energy. First-round draft pick Terrence Shannon was the first man off the bench and had all 13 of his points in the first half.

Edwards made the arena erupt when he drove from the wing for a soaring dunk over Holmgren in the first quarter before glaring and yelling at the 7-foot-1 native of Minneapolis, who ignored the taunt.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA ’s leading scorer at 32.6 points per game entering the night, had his streak of 25-point games end at 22.

Oklahoma City, after a seven-day break, plays at Utah on Feb. 21, when Minnesota visits Houston. Then the Thunder and Timberwolves play on back-to-back days, in Minneapolis on Feb. 23 and in Oklahoma City on Feb. 24.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) walks across the court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault yells toward a referee during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) celebrates after a dunk during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11), left, works toward the basket as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) works toward the basket as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Andrei Svechnikov scored the go-ahead goal with just under two minutes left and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Washington Capitals 3-1 in Game 5 on Thursday night, winning the second-round series and advancing to the Eastern Conference final for a second time in three years.

Captain Jordan Staal got his first goal of the playoffs, and Frederik Andersen stopped 18 of the 19 shots he faced, including several on Alex Ovechkin.

After a give and go with defenseman Sean Walker, Svechnikov’s shot got through Logan Thompson from a bad angle with 1:59 remaining, and that was the difference in a game that was back and forth.

Seth Jarvis sealed it with an empty-net goal with 26.1 seconds remaining.

The Hurricanes improved to 10-5 in potential close-out games in seven trips to the postseason with coach Rod Brind’Amour. They will face either Florida in a rematch of the 2023 East final or Toronto in a reminder of 2002, and the Panthers are up 3-2 with the chance to eliminate the Maple Leafs as soon as Friday night.

Carolina is 35-7-2 through 82 games and then two rounds when scoring first.

Despite an unassisted goal by Anthony Beauvillier and some important saves among the 18 from Thompson, the Capitals saw their season end after finishing atop the conference and the Metropolitan Division and beating Montreal in the first round to win a playoff series for the first time since their Stanley Cup run in 2018. Washington started strong, got a few quality scoring chances but could not get through tight-checking defense to prolong the series.

After giving up the back-breaker to Svechnikov, Thompson was pulled for an extra attacker and the Capitals were unable to equalize and let Jarvis get to the loose puck for the empty-netter.

Carolina would have home-ice advantage against Florida and open on the road if it’s Toronto.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Carolina Hurricanes center Seth Jarvis (24) celebrates his empty net goal with right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) in the third period of Game 5 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Washington Capitals Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) celebrates his goal with defenseman Sean Walker (26) and others in the third period of Game 5 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Washington Capitals Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) celebrates his goal as he skates to the bench in the third period of Game 5 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Washington Capitals Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) celebrates his goal with defenseman Sean Walker (26) in the third period of Game 5 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Washington Capitals Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) skates with the puck in the first period of Game 5 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) celebrates his goal with teammates in the first period of Game 5 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series as Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun (6) skates by Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Carolina Hurricanes left wing William Carrier (28) tries to get the puck past Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (48) and defenseman Matt Roy (3) in the second period of Game 5 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Carolina Hurricanes left wing William Carrier (28) skates with the puck against Washington Capitals defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk (57) in the second period of Game 5 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (4) shoots the puck in the second period of Game 5 of a second-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Washington Capitals Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)