In a game filled with crazy swings in momentum, the final one swung the Minnesota Wild’s way.

When it was all over, Jared Spurgeon scored in overtime, lifting the Wild to a 6-5 win over the Nashville Predators after both teams led and trailed at various points.

The Wild got a first-period hat trick from Matt Boldy, who set up the overtime winner, along with 30 saves from goalie Filip Gustavsson to head to the Olympic break with a 34-14-10 record. They have gone 8-1-1 in their past 10 games.

It was the third game between these Central Division rivals this season, and the third time they have needed overtime to reach a decision.

Predators coaches Andrew Brunette and Darby Hendrickson —  well-known for their on-ice work in Minnesota two decades ago — likely spent considerable time with their team going over detailed tactics on how to slow down the red-hot Wild.

Boldy needed less than 13 minutes to leave those plans in shambles with his 30th, 31st and 32nd goals, tying him for the team lead.

He completed the fastest hat trick from the start of a game in Wild franchise history, helping the visitors to 2-0 and 3-1 leads in the opening period. But a pair of power-play goals by the Predators, and a bank shot off the arm of Gustavsson by former Gophers standout Erik Haula had the teams knotted 3-all after the initial 20 minutes.

Nashville scored to take the lead, and hit the post, within the opening minute of the middle frame, pushing the Wild back on their heels and getting the raucous crowd back in the game. But the second period would end tied as well, when Yakov Trenin chipped in a loose puck from the top of the crease for his fifth goal of the season.

After Vladimir Tarasenko gave the Wild a late lead, banking a long-range shot off a Nashville defender and over the line, the Predators answered 34 seconds later on a similar play, when a cross-ice puck deflected off a skate and into the net. Minnesota had 19 shots in the third but could not get another go-ahead goal until the 3-on-3 extra session.

Juuse Saros had 38 saves for the Predators, who are back in the hunt for the playoffs after a rough start to the season. It was Minnesota’s NHL-leading 23rd game of the season that has required overtime.

The Wild’s next game is Thursday, Feb. 26 at Colorado.

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By IAN HARRISON

TORONTO (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 13 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, Bones Hyland had 20 points and the Minnesota Timberwolves overcame an 18-point deficit to beat the Toronto Raptors 128-126 on Wednesday.

Minnesota won in Toronto for the first time since Jan. 21, 2004. The Timberwolves’ previous road win in the series came Feb. 14, 2021, when the Raptors were playing in Tampa because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jaden McDaniels scored 19 points, Naz Reid and Julius Randle each had 17 and Donte DiVincenzo added 15 as the Timberwolves won for the fifth time in six games.

Rudy Gobert had 10 points and 12 rebounds as the Timberwolves improved to 14-5 against Eastern Conference opponents.

Brandon Ingram scored 25 points, Immanuel Quickley had 23 and Scottie Barnes had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Raptors.

Ingram hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer, but Toronto lost for the fourth time in its past five home games.

Sandro Mamukelashvili scored 14 points for Toronto. RJ Barrett and Collin Murray-Boyles each had 13.

Minnesota trailed 77-59 after the Raptors scored five straight points to start the third quarter. Toronto led 104-94 after three.

Edwards’ driving layup with 2:26 left in the fourth gave the Timberwolves a one-point edge, 118-117, their first lead since early in the second.

Edwards finished 1 for 8 from 3-point range but made 10 of 15 attempts from inside the arc and shot 7 for 10 at the free throw line.

Toronto made seven of its 13 turnovers in the final period, leading to 11 points for the Timberwolves.

Guard Ochai Agbaji was not with the Raptors on Wednesday in the final game before Thursday afternoon’s trade deadline.

Up next

Timberwolves: Host New Orleans on Friday.

Raptors: Host Chicago on Thursday.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Nolan Minessale scored 26 points and Nick Janowski added 23 as the St. Thomas men’s basketball team went on the road and handled South Dakota State in a 77-62 win on Wednesday.

Minessale added team highs of eight rebounds and four assists in the win. The Tommies (19-6, 8-2 Summit) outscored the Jackrabbits 46-34 in the second half after it was just a three-point game at halftime.

St. Thomas shot 71.4% from the field in the second half, including a 6-of-9 mark from 3-point territory. The Tommies shot 48.2% for the game.

They host Oral Roberts on Saturday at 7 p.m. Central.

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Gophers men’s basketball coach Niko Medved used sarcasm to deflect the difficulty in Wednesday’s matchup against No. 10 Michigan State and hall of fame coach Tom Izzo.

“Maybe we can take advantage of Michigan State’s youth and inexperience, particularly in their coaching. Take advantage of Coach Izzo,” Medved said Tuesday, joking about head coach Tom Izzo’s 31 years leading the with Spartans. “They won’t be very well prepared. They haven’t been in these situations before, so maybe that’s exactly a good thing for us.”

The satire masked the challenge Medved knew the ultra-consistent Spartans represented, but Minnesota rose to the occassion with an nothing-to-scoff-at 76-73 upset win on Wednesday at Williams Arena.

Gophers (10-12, 3-8 Big Ten) has lost seven in a row, but produced their first win against a top 10 team was 2021 when they topped No. 7 Michigan. The Gophers beat ranked Indiana and Iowa teams earlier this season.

The Spartans were 8.5-point betting favorites, but Minnesota pulled off a stunner.

Minnesota led 69-56 with two minutes left, but the Spartans stormed back to cut lead to 73-71 with 19 seconds remaining.

Isaac Asuma made two free throws and Langston Reynolds added one to put it out of reach.

Jaylen Crocker-Johnson led all scorers with 22 points. All five Minnesota starters scored in double figures.

Spartans star guard Jeremy Fears has developed a reputation for dirty play; that surfaced in the Michigan loss last week and Wolverines coach Dusty May calling it out.

On Wednesday, Fears kicked his leg out toward Langston Reynolds, and on review, the foul call on Reynolds was reversed to a flagrant on Fears. Cade Tyson made two free throws after the review.

That was one of a few incidents against Fears on Wednesday, but Reynolds kept his cool. When he made a bucket and drew a four with four minutes left, he gave a cathartic shout toward the crowd.

The Gophers led 32-21 at the half on the back of strong 3-point shooting and stout defense. Minnesota was 7 for 14 from deep, while the Spartans were 2 for 8. The U held Michigan State to 33% shooting in the opening 20 minutes and forced five turnovers.

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