The first round of the "Thibodeau Bowl" goes to his former team.
Newly hired Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau was on hand to watch the Wolves take on the Chicago Bulls in the finals of the NBA Summer League, and the two teams delivered a thrilling finale.
Second-year guard Tyus Jones thought he'd sunk a dagger when his 3-pointer gave Minnesota a 77-74 lead over the Chicago Bulls with 3.6 seconds remaining in regulation, but a late score by rookie guard Denzel Valentine proved to be the difference-maker in the NBA Summer League finals.
Not just once, but twice.
Valentine hit a 3-pointer with just 0.2 seconds remaining in regulation to send the two teams to overtime tied 77-77, before hitting a jumper with just one second remaining on the clock in the OT to help the Bulls to an 84-82 win.
Valentine, who finished 0-for-6 shooting through three quarters, finished with just seven points on the night, all of which came in the fourth quarter.
Jones was the Wolves' top player once again, scoring 27 points, while center Adreian Payne scored 22 points.
Starting five: Jones, Payne, Scott Suggs, Devin Thomas and Xavier Silas started for the Wolves.
Draft pick report: Jones -- a first round pick in 2015 -- was named the NBA Summer League MVP earlier in the day, before logging a double-double against the Bulls, scoring 27 points and adding 10 assists. Rookie Kris Dunn remained sidelined with a concussion, but Jones picked up the slack, shooting 40.3 percent (9-for-21) from the field and converting on eight of his 10 attempts from the free-throw line.
Stats corner: The Wolves improved from 3-point range in their summer finale, outshooting the Bulls 37.9 percent to 25 percent from beyond the arc... The Bulls out-rebounded the Wolves 48-38... Minnesota shot 40.3 percent (29-for-72) as a team.
