Anatomy of a comeback: How the Wolves beat the Hornets

It was no eight points in nine seconds, but the Minnesota Timberwolves' comeback to force overtime against the Charlotte Hornets after trailing by seven with less than 51 seconds left Saturday was a stunner.

Minnesota had a presumed 0.2 percent chance of victory in that scenario, but benefited from some late-game defensive miscues by the Hornets - and some good fortune.

With the clock ticking down to 40 seconds and the Wolves down seven, Zach LaVine isolated on the perimeter against Frank Kaminsky. A trey was the only play, and LaVine nailed it.

On the ensuing possession for Charlotte, Kemba Walker's foot went out of bounds before he lost the ball. The turnover gave the rock back to Minnesota with 38 seconds left.

Ricky Rubio is so disrespected as a shooter that it didn't seem unusual Walker would leave him wide open in the corner to help on Gorgui Dieng (who made a terrific pass). The Hornets paid the price however, as Rubio nailed his eighth trey of the season - good for a 25 percent 3-point success rate - and the Wolves pulled within one.

After a Walker runner put the Hornets back up three with 14.6 seconds left, Andrew Wiggins responded with one of the biggest shots of his young career, sending the game to overtime.

Minnesota outscored Charlotte 19-14 in the extra frame to win 125-120. It's only the Wolves' sixth victory of the season, but it halted a four-game losing streak, and the team could potentially use it as a galvanizing force for a turnaround.

The Timberwolves have been dreadful at closing games this season, so Saturday could be viewed as an epiphany.

They'll need supreme confidence going forward, too. Their next four games are against the San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons, and Golden State Warriors.