Walker Kessler's late dunk lifts Jazz to 117-116 win over short-handed Timberwolves

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Walker Kessler had a go-ahead dunk with 9.7 seconds left to help the Utah Jazz beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 117-116 on Friday night, snapping a six-game losing streak in the series.

John Collins scored a season-high 29 points and 12 rebounds for Utah, Brice Sensabaugh added 17 points ande Isaiah Collier had a career-high 14 assists.

Naz Reid had 27 points and 11 rebounds, and Jalen McDaniels added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who played without leading scorer Anthony Edwards while he served a one-game suspension for technical foul accumulation.

Utah opened the third quarter with a 27-4 run and seized an 83-71 lead. Collins started the second-half rally with back-to-back baskets and then made two straight field goals again to put the Jazz in front. They scored baskets on six straight possessions to cap the run.

Minnesota used a 10-2 run to regain the lead late in the fourth quarter, going up 116-115 on Donte DiVincenzo’s 3-pointer with 1:31 remaining.

Timberwolves: Minnesota, coming off a 111-102 loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles on Thursday night, missed 12 of 14 shots over the first 6 1/2 minutes of the third quarter to squander an 11-point halftime lead.

Jazz: John Collins and Collin Sexton both returned to the lineup following long absences. Sexton sat out 11 games with a left ankle sprain and Collins missed three games with low back soreness.

Kessler’s game-winner was the lone basket for Utah over the final 4:23.

The Timberwolves had only one turnover in the first half.

Timberwolves visit Phoenix on Sunday, and Jazz host New Orleans.

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Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo, right, attempts a shot in the final seconds an NBA basketball game as Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler, left, and forward John Collins (20) defend during the second half Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Terrence Shannon Jr., right, takes the ball to the hoop as Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton (2) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (10) takes the ball inside as Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton, left, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)

Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh, left, shoots as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) defends, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) dribbles under the hoop, as Utah Jazz forward John Collins, right, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)

Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) takes the ball to the hoop, as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (10) and Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)

Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) takes the ball inside as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo, right, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)

Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) celebrates as his team defeats the Minnesota Timberwolves in an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)

Houston's stingy defense knocked Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers out of the NFL playoffs, sending the Texans to the divisional round to complete wild-card weekend.

The Texans sacked Rodgers four times, scored two defensive touchdowns and held Pittsburgh to 175 yards in a 30-6 victory on Monday night. It was Houston's 10th straight win and the franchise's first on the road in the playoffs.

Mike Tomlin and the Steelers lost their seventh consecutive playoff game, and Rodgers may have played the last game of his Hall of Fame career.

Houston (13-5), the AFC's No. 5 seed, will face the No. 2 seed New England Patriots (15-3) next Sunday at 3 p.m. EST. The No. 2 seed Bears (12-6) will host the No. 5 seed Rams (13-5) in the second game Sunday.

The divisional round will kick off with the No. 6 seed Bills (13-5) at the No. 1 seed Broncos (14-3) on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The No. 6 seed 49ers (13-5) will face the top-seeded Seahawks (14-3) in the night game.

In Sunday's wild-card games, Brock Purdy tossed a 4-yard TD pass to Christian McCaffrey with 2:54 remaining to lift the 49ers to a 23-19 comeback win at Philadelphia. McCaffrey also caught a 29-yard TD pass from wide receiver Jauan Jennings.

The Patriots sacked Justin Herbert six times and held Los Angeles to just 207 yards in a 16-3 win on Sunday night.

Josh Allen led Buffalo to a 27-24 comeback victory in Jacksonville in Sunday's first game. Allen scored on a 1-yard run late in the fourth quarter and Cole Bishop intercepted Trevor Lawrence's pass to secure Buffalo's first playoff win on the road since the 1992 AFC championship game at Miami.

On Saturday, the playoffs kicked off with two wacky games.

The Bears trailed the Green Bay Packers 21-3 at halftime and 27-16 with just under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter before Caleb Williams threw a pair of touchdown passes. His 25-yard TD toss to D.J. Moore put Chicago ahead 31-27 with 1:43 remaining. Then Jordan Love's desperation heave into the end zone from the Bears 28 was knocked down as time expired to secure Chicago's first playoff win since the 2010 season.

Williams finished with 361 yards passing, two TDs and two interceptions for the Bears.

In the opener on wild-card weekend, Matthew Stafford threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson in the final minute and Los Angeles rallied to beat the Carolina Panthers 34-31 in a game that was much closer than expected.

The Rams were double-digit favorites on BetMGM Sportsbook against the Panthers (8-10). The Rams jumped to a 14-0 lead, but couldn’t take advantage of first-half turnovers and allowed Carolina to get within 17-14 at halftime.

Stafford, who earned All-Pro honors for the first time in his 17-year career on Saturday, threw for 304 yards, three TDs and had one pick. Puka Nacua, who was a unanimous All-Pro selection, had 10 catches for 111 yards and one TD and also had a 5-yard TD run.

The Rams are back in the divisional round for the second straight season. Last year, they were 13 yards away from eliminating Philadelphia before a sack and an incomplete pass ended their season with a 28-22 loss.

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Houston Texans defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (90) celebrates with cornerback Tremon Smith (11), defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (51) and linebacker E.J. Speed (45) after a touchdown during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Justin Berl)

New England Patriots defensive end Milton Williams (97), linebacker Christian Elliss (53) and linebacker Robert Spillane (14) celebrate Williams' sack of Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) celebrates his touchdown with tight end Dawson Knox (88) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams looks to throw during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)

Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams celebrates after an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) reacts after a first down during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Carolina Panthers, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)

Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson, center left, celebrates his touchdown catch with wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Carolina Panthers, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws a pass during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Carolina Panthers, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)