Rockets 116, Timberwolves 111
HOUSTON -- James Harden recorded a double-double and matched his career high for assists as the Houston Rockets fended off the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-111 on Friday night at Toyota Center.
Harden finished with 29 points and 14 assists as all five Rockets starters scored in double figures. Harden also had nine turnovers, however, as Minnesota (22-47) turned 17 Houston turnovers into 25 points to remain within striking distance throughout the second half.
Rockets forward Donatas Motiejunas added 17 points and nine rebounds including a critical basket following his offensive rebound and a steal on the defensive end that keyed a transition basket and 110-100 lead. Reserve Michael Beasley converted that turnover into a dunk and finished with 17 points and six boards for the Rockets (35-34).
Dwight Howard (10 points, 11 rebounds) and Patrick Beverley (18 points, career-high 10 assists) added double-doubles for Houston.
Timberwolves rookie Karl-Anthony Towns posted his 40th double-double with a game-high 32 points and 11 rebounds as Minnesota matched Houston with five starters in double figures. Andrew Wiggins added 21 points while Zach LaVine chipped in 15.
Following a blistering start that netted Houston a 24-11 lead when Beasley nailed one of the Rockets five first-quarter 3-pointers, Minnesota turned to its reserves to work its way back into contention.
The Timberwolves turned four Rockets turnovers into eight points in the second quarter, and their rim attacks served as the bedrock for an 11 for 18 shooting display. Shabazz Muhammad scored nine of the Timberwolves 29 points in the period as Minnesota scored 16 points in the paint and eight in transition to slice the deficit to 54-52 at the break.
Harden and Motiejunas helped restore order in the third, sparking a 34-point period with 23 combined points, with Harden also contributing three assists. After Towns converted a floater that cut the deficit to 66-63, the Rockets responded with an 8-0 spurt, and Harden later added a driving layup and a 3 to rebuild the double-digit cushion.
NOTES: Minnesota coach Sam Mitchell lamented the Timberwolves' recent rebounding woes, citing their lack of frontcourt heft as opposed to any issues with effort. The Timberwolves rank 24th in the NBA in defensive rebounding rate and have posted a minus-7.3 rebounding margin this month. Minnesota has relied heavily on 20-year-old rookie C Karl-Anthony Towns and slender C Gorgui Dieng on the glass. ... Dieng suffered a hip injury against the Grizzlies on Wednesday night but was back in the lineup. ... Rockets interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff said G James Harden is working on adjusting to how teams are defending him, a key factor in his leading the NBA with 310 turnovers. Harden committed eight turnovers against the Clippers on Wednesday night, the eighth time he has had at least that many in a game this season.