DeRozan’s 33 Points Lead Kings to OT Win Over Collapsing Timberwolves
Nov, 26 2025
It wasn’t just a win. It was a statement. On Monday, November 24, 2025, at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, the Sacramento Kings outlasted the Minnesota Timberwolves 117-112 in overtime — not because they were flawless, but because Minnesota, once again, couldn’t close the deal.
When the Lead Vanished
With three minutes left in regulation, the Timberwolves were up 101-91. They had control. They had momentum. They had Anthony Edwards, the 23-year-old All-Star, buzzing like a wildfire with 43 points and 7 rebounds. But then, everything unraveled. A missed layup. A turnover by Rudy Gobert. A missed free throw. And then, the unthinkable: DeMar DeRozan, the 35-year-old veteran from Compton, calmly sank two free throws to tie it at 101 with 34 seconds left. The crowd went silent. Then, suddenly, electric.
Edwards missed a contested jumper. DeRozan and Malik Monk missed their final chances. But the Kings didn’t panic. They waited. And when the clock hit zero, the game wasn’t over — it was just getting started.
DeRozan’s Masterclass in Clutch
DeRozan didn’t just play well. He played like a man who’d been here before — and he had. Fifteen free throws. Fifteen made. No misses. Not one. That’s rare in the NBA. Even rarer under pressure. He added 11 points in overtime alone, turning the final five minutes into a clinic on poise. His 33 points weren’t just numbers — they were the difference between another loss and a lifeline.
Keegan Murray, the 23-year-old forward, matched him with 26 points and 15 rebounds — a career-high performance that included a crucial put-back in OT that sent the home crowd into a frenzy. Malik Monk added 22 more, and the Kings’ bench, long criticized this season, finally showed up. Sacramento improved to 5-13, snapping an eight-game skid that had felt like a slow-motion implosion.
Minnesota’s Pattern of Pain
But this wasn’t just another loss for Minnesota. It was the second in a row — and both followed the same script.
Two nights earlier, on Friday, November 21, 2025, at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, the Timberwolves blew an eight-point lead with less than a minute left. They lost 114-113 to the Suns. Same story. Same collapse. Same questions.
This time, it was 10 points with three minutes left. Same result: heartbreak. Julius Randle, the 30-year-old power forward, threw a lazy inbound pass with the game tied at 110. Donte DiVincenzo, the 27-year-old guard, lost his footing on a critical possession. Gobert, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year, committed the kind of turnover that makes coaches scream into towels.
"They were a mess," said one NBC Sports Bay Area analyst during the broadcast. "Late 110-109. After that Edwards play? The Kings made their free throws. That’s it. That’s the difference."
Why This Matters Beyond the Box Score
The Kings are not a playoff team. Not yet. But this win — gritty, ugly, resilient — might be the turning point they’ve needed since trading for DeRozan last summer. He’s not just scoring. He’s teaching. He’s showing young players like Murray and Monk how to win when everything’s falling apart.
For Minnesota? The alarm bells are ringing. They’re 10-7 — one of the best records in the West. They have Edwards, Gobert, and Randle. They have talent. But talent doesn’t win close games. Poise does. Experience does. Composure does. And right now, Minnesota’s bench is panicking. Their stars are forcing shots. Their defense is crumbling at the worst moments.
"It’s not one player," said a former NBA assistant coach who spoke anonymously. "It’s a culture. When you keep losing leads like this, the locker room starts to believe it’s inevitable. That’s harder to fix than a jump shot."
What’s Next? The NBA Cup Crucible
Both teams face critical matchups just two days later, on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, as part of the NBA Cup — the league’s mid-season tournament. The Timberwolves travel to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder, a team that thrives in fast-paced, high-pressure games. The Kings host the Phoenix Suns — the same team that beat them two nights ago — at Golden 1 Center.
For Sacramento, it’s a chance to build on momentum. For Minnesota, it’s a chance to prove this isn’t a pattern — but a fluke. The clock is ticking. And the NBA is watching.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did DeMar DeRozan manage to make all 15 free throws?
DeRozan’s perfect 15-for-15 from the line wasn’t luck — it was discipline. He’s one of the NBA’s most consistent free-throw shooters, with a career average of 84%. But under pressure, his routine — a deep breath, two dribbles, steady release — never changes. Coaches say his calm demeanor in crunch time is why the Kings trusted him with the ball in the final seconds.
Why is Minnesota collapsing in late-game situations?
Minnesota’s roster is stacked with young stars like Edwards and rising talents like Naz Reid, but they lack veteran leadership in clutch moments. Gobert, despite his defensive prowess, has struggled with decision-making under pressure. The team’s bench rotation is thin, and when the game tightens, they revert to isolation plays instead of structured offense — a habit that’s cost them two games in a row.
What does this win mean for the Sacramento Kings’ season?
At 5-13, the Kings are still far from playoff contention. But this win ended an eight-game losing streak and proved they can compete with elite teams when DeRozan leads. Keegan Murray’s emergence as a double-double threat and Monk’s scoring punch suggest the team’s rebuild is gaining traction — if they can maintain consistency.
How does the NBA Cup affect team strategies?
The NBA Cup, officially the In-Season Tournament, adds extra stakes to regular-season games. Teams are incentivized to rest stars less, and playoff seeding can be influenced by performance. For Sacramento and Minnesota, these games aren’t just exhibition — they’re opportunities to gain momentum, earn bonus playoff points, and test chemistry under pressure.
Is Anthony Edwards to blame for the Timberwolves’ losses?
No — Edwards scored 43 points and carried Minnesota for most of the game. But he’s still 23, and in close games, he’s been forced into isolation plays instead of trusting his teammates. The issue isn’t his scoring — it’s the lack of a reliable secondary playmaker when defenses collapse on him. That’s a coaching and roster problem, not just his.
When was the last time the Kings won back-to-back games this season?
Before this win, their last back-to-back victories were in October — their first two games of the season. Since then, they’ve gone 3-11. This two-game streak — including the win over Denver on November 22 — is their longest since the season opener. It’s a small sign, but for a team in rebuild mode, it’s meaningful.