MINNEAPOLIS (Interstat) — Michael Porter Jr. scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Brooklyn Nets upset the Minnesota Timberwolves 123-107 on Saturday night at Target Center. The Nets, who led by as many as 21 points, overcame a 63-62 halftime deficit with a dominant 36-point third quarter. Cam Thomas added 30 points off the bench for Brooklyn. Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 28 points. The Nets shot 54.8% from the field and made 20 of 21 free throws, while the Timberwolves struggled from the line, hitting 20 of 28. The victory improved Brooklyn to 10-19, while Minnesota fell to 20-12.

MINNEAPOLIS (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of both recent form and pregame expectations, the Brooklyn Nets delivered a commanding 123-107 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night at Target Center. The Nets, entering the game with a 9-19 record and projected by analytics as a massive underdog, used a dominant third-quarter surge to seize control and snap a two-game winning streak for the Timberwolves, who fell to 20-12. The result flipped the script from the teams’ previous meeting on Nov. 3, a 125-109 Minnesota win in Brooklyn. The game’s pivotal shift occurred in the third period. After a high-scoring first half that saw Minnesota take a 63-62 lead into the break behind Anthony Edwards’ 18 points, the Nets’ defense stiffened and their offense found a devastating rhythm. Brooklyn outscored Minnesota 36-23 in the quarter, turning a one-point deficit into a 15-point advantage. The Nets’ run was fueled by their stars and supported by timely contributions. Michael Porter, the forward from Columbia, Missouri, scored nine of his team-high 27 points in the period, including a technical free throw and a three-point play. Meanwhile, the Nets’ defense harassed the Timberwolves into inefficient possessions, holding them to 23 points on 8-of-21 shooting in the quarter while forcing five turnovers. A key sequence saw Brooklyn score eight straight points, capped by a Day’Ron Sharpe alley-oop layup from Cam Thomas, to extend their lead to 86-74 late in the quarter, a margin from which Minnesota would not recover. Porter finished with a double-double, adding 10 rebounds and four assists in 33 minutes, continuing a strong individual stretch. He was complemented brilliantly by guard Cam Thomas, who erupted for 30 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including four three-pointers, in just 20 minutes off the bench. Thomas was particularly potent in the first and third quarters, providing explosive scoring bursts that kept Brooklyn close early and helped them pull away later. For Minnesota, Anthony Edwards led all scorers with 28 points, adding seven rebounds. But his efficiency waned after the first half, and he committed four of Minnesota’s 11 turnovers. Julius Randle orchestrated the offense with 11 assists but scored only 13 points on 5-of-13 shooting. The Timberwolves, playing their second game in three nights after an overtime loss in Denver on Christmas, lacked their usual defensive cohesion, allowing Brooklyn to shoot 54.8% from the field. The Nets’ offensive execution was notably crisp. They scored 123 points on 100 possessions, an elite offensive rating of 123.0, and were nearly perfect from the foul line, making 20 of 21 attempts. Their 46 made field goals came on 84 shots, a 54.8% clip that overwhelmed a Minnesota team that managed only 44.6% shooting. While both teams made 13 three-pointers, Brooklyn attempted 31 to Minnesota’s 40, indicating a more disciplined shot profile. Brooklyn’s interior presence, led by Nic Claxton (14 points, six rebounds, three assists) and the energetic Sharpe (10 points, four rebounds, four assists off the bench), provided balance. The Nets also won the possession battle, committing 15 turnovers to Minnesota’s 11 but grabbing nine offensive rebounds to Minnesota’s 10. The fourth quarter saw the Timberwolves make several pushes, cutting the lead to 10 points on multiple occasions. Each time, the Nets had an answer, often from Thomas or Porter. A Porter three-pointer with 1:59 remaining pushed the lead to 105-102, effectively sealing the game and leading to both teams emptying their benches in the final minutes. The announced crowd of 18,978 at Target Center saw a Brooklyn team that has now won three of its last four games, showing signs of life after a difficult start to the season. For Minnesota, the loss served as a stumble in an otherwise strong campaign, highlighting vulnerabilities when their defensive intensity lags. Brooklyn continues a brief road trip with a game at Golden State on Monday. Minnesota looks to rebound when they visit Chicago on Monday.

Preview: Nets Face Timberwolves in Minneapolis MINNEAPOLIS (Interstat) — The surging Minnesota Timberwolves host the struggling Brooklyn Nets on Saturday at Target Center in a cross-conference NBA matchup. The Timberwolves (20-11) enter as one of the Western Conference’s top teams, while the Nets (9-19) sit near the bottom of the East. Minnesota won the season’s first meeting, 125-109, in Brooklyn on Nov. 3. Brooklyn has shown recent signs of life, winning four of its last six games. Forward Michael Porter has been the catalyst, averaging 28.8 points and 7.1 rebounds over his last eight contests. He scored 28 points in Brooklyn’s 114-106 road win over Philadelphia on Tuesday. “He’s carrying a huge load for us offensively and playing with great confidence,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said of Porter. The Nets’ recent success, however, will be tested by a Minnesota squad coming off a thrilling 142-138 overtime loss to Denver on Christmas. The Timberwolves are 8-2 in their last 10 games. Guard Anthony Edwards powers Minnesota, averaging 31.3 points per game. He is coming off a 44-point performance against the Nuggets and has scored at least 38 points in three of his last five outings. “Ant is playing at an MVP level,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “His ability to take over games, especially in big moments, is special.” The matchup between Porter and Edwards, two of the league’s most explosive scorers, will be the focal point. Brooklyn will need a collective effort to counter Minnesota’s balance, which includes forward Julius Randle, who added 32 points in the Christmas Day loss. The game tips off at 7 p.m. CST Saturday. Following this contest, Minnesota begins a four-game road trip in Chicago on Monday. Brooklyn returns home to face Golden State on Monday.