The Timberwolves had one box left to check during their impressive start to the season — beat a healthy, good team on the road.

Check.

Minnesota rallied from a 17-point deficit to down the Heat 112-108 on Monday night in Miami.

It did so on the back of its defense, which hasn’t always traveled this season. That looked to be the case in the first half, as Miami scored 66 points on 58 percent shooting over the first two quarters.

But, as has often been the case this season, Minnesota locked in after the break. Miami scored just 17 points in the third quarter as Rudy Gobert started to dominate the interior. Even in the fourth, the Heat went 9 for 25 from the field, often resorting to Bam Adebayo’s mid-range jump shots.

Adebayo returned from an injury absence just in time for Monday’s contest. Ditto for Heat guard Tyler Herro. Herro set the offensive tone for Miami (15-12) in the first half, but he wasn’t nearly as much of a factor from there.

“First half, we weren’t ourselves. They were too comfortable. They were doing whatever they wanted on the court,” Rudy Gobert said in his on-court, postgame television interview. “We sat down at halftime and said, ‘Let’s be physical.’ … We did in the second half.”

Meanwhile, Minnesota’s starts shined bright down the stretch. Anthony Edwards finished with 32 points, 10 of which came in the final frame. Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 18 points and eight rebounds, and also delivered the play of the game.

With Minnesota leading by one with a minute to play, Edwards missed a jumper. Towns edged out old foe Jimmy Butler for the offensive board, then found Rudy Gobert for a lob dunk to put Minnesota back up three. That was one of two assists to go with a key mid-range jumper the big man splashed in the contest’s closing minutes.

“Just winning plays,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch told reporters. “That’s what we needed.”

Towns helped key a late-game offense that was highly efficient for Minnesota (20-5). At times, the Wolves can stagnant offensively when things get tight. But Minnesota scored 15 points over the game’s final three and a half minutes Monday.

Miami was equally as good in the closing minutes, as the contest was a back-and-forth display of clutch shot-making. Nickeil Alexander-Walker buried a couple free-throws with five seconds to play to put Minnesota up multiple possessions and finally seal the deal in a classic duel.

Naz Reid scored 15 points of his own, while Mike Conley hit his first four 3-point attempts of the night — the third of which came in transition to finally push Minnesota ahead in the fourth. Gobert had nine points and 16 rebounds, and both of his blocks came in the fourth quarter.

“Once we got a few stops (we) could feel momentum going,” Finch said. “Obviously, Rudy was super dominant in the paint.”

Monday felt like a true statement for Minnesota that the Wolves are capable of going anywhere to beat anyone. They’ve now downed both NBA finalists from a year ago in Miami and Denver. Minnesota’s resume is quickly amounting to that of a championship contender.

“We’ve got guys that don’t want to lose,” Gobert said. “We went back to doing the little things, playing defense, moving the ball offensively, and then the game takes care of itself.”