Saunders wins 1st game, T'Wolves top Thunder 119-117

Andrew Wiggins had a season-high 40 points and 10 rebounds, and the Timberwolves beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 119-117 on Tuesday night in Ryan Saunders' first game as Minnesota's interim coach.

Saunders, just 32 years old, is the son of former Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders. The team fired Tom Thibodeau on Sunday.

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 20 points and Dario Saric added 15 for the Timberwolves.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Taj Gibson (67) is defended by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Terrance Ferguson, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. Russell Westbrook is at right. (AP PhotoSue Ogrocki)

Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook missed two 3-pointers in the closing seconds that would have given the Thunder the lead. He finished with 25 points and 16 assists.

Paul George scored 27 points and Steven Adams added 20 points and 12 rebounds for Oklahoma City.

Thunder reserve center Nerlens Noel was taken off the court on a stretcher in the third quarter after Wiggins made contact with him on a dunk attempt.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) drives between Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jerami Grant (9) and center Steven Adams (12) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. (AP PhotoSue Ogrocki)

Noel took an elbow in the face as Wiggins went up, and Noel hit the ground hard. A defensive foul was called on Noel. The play was reviewed, and no additional fouls were called. Noel was down for several minutes before being taken away from the court. There was no immediate word on Noel's condition.

In the fourth quarter, Oklahoma City guard Dennis Schroder somehow won a jump ball with Towns, and Westbrook hit a 3-pointer to give the Thunder a 111-110 lead.

Josh Okogie's corner 3-pointer with 26.8 seconds left put the Timberwolves up 119-115.

Minnesota Timberwolves interim head coach Ryan Saunders gestures in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. (AP PhotoSue Ogrocki)

Westbrook made two free throws, then Minnesota's Tyus Jones traveled with 15.5 seconds left to give the Thunder a chance.

TIP-INS

Thunder: G Alex Abrines missed his fifth consecutive game for personal reasons. ... Schroder was listed as questionable with a left quad contusion, but he entered the game in the first quarter.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) dunks in front of Oklahoma City Thunder forward Patrick Patterson (54) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. (AP PhotoSue Ogrocki)

Timberwolves: G Derrick Rose missed his sixth straight game with a sprained right ankle. ... F Robert Covington missed his fourth straight game with a bruised right knee. ... Timberwolves guard Jeff Teague was ejected in the third quarter after a skirmish with Schroder.

UP NEXT

Timberwolves: Host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Dario Saric (36) passes in front of Oklahoma City Thunder forward Patrick Patterson (54) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. (AP PhotoSue Ogrocki)

Thunder: At the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday.

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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)