Rockets 107, Timberwolves 104
HOUSTON - James Harden and Dwight Howard recorded double-doubles while Terrence Jones delivered a second consecutive strong effort off the bench as the Houston Rockets held off the Minnesota Timberwolves 107-104 on Wednesday night at Toyota Center.
Harden, a guard who reached 10,000 career points on a fourth-quarter free throw, paired 27 points with 11 assists, while Howard, a center, added 15 points and 10 rebounds. Jones, a forward, scored 16 points and grabbed nine boards as Houston (21-19) extended its win streak to a season-best five games.
Wolves guard Andrew Wiggins scored a game-high 28 points while veteran guard Kevin Martin added 22 points off the bench. Rookie forward Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a double-double (12 points, 16 rebounds) as Minnesota (12-28) dropped an eighth consecutive game.
Wiggins was irrepressible in the third quarter, pouring in 11 points on five shot attempts to drag the Timberwolves back into contention. He got a temporary boost from veteran forward Tayshaun Prince, who drilled three jumpers in a two-minute span after a scoreless first half.
But it was Wiggins who excelled throughout the third, opening the period with a pair of free throws before scoring on a rim attack through a foul, drilling a 3, and adding two more free throws before nailing a jumper off a screen that pulled Minnesota to within 76-71 at the 4:05 mark. Ignited, the Timberwolves bridged the final two periods with a 9-1 run to reclaim the lead at 83-83, their first since the end of the first quarter.
Houston seized control early in the second period behind reserve swingman Corey Brewer, whose transition baskets keyed the Rockets. Behind Brewer, the Rockets recorded 14 fast-break points in the quarter and pushed to an 11-point lead when Harden converted a transition layup with 6:08 left in the half.
But that's when Minnesota answered with its first dose of Martin, who came off the bench and scored 10 points in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 49-45.
The Rockets needed consecutive Howard baskets early in the third, both off deft passes from Harden, to reclaim a nine-point lead at 61-52.
NOTES: Rockets G Patrick Beverley was not with the team because of a family health matter. He had made 24 consecutive starts, with Houston going 15-9 during that stretch. Veteran G Jason Terry started in place of Beverley as the Rockets utilized their 13th different starting lineup this season. ... Timberwolves F Kevin Garnett sat out the second half of a back-to-back after logging nine scoreless minutes against the Thunder on Tuesday night. Minnesota C Nikola Pekovic, out against Oklahoma City, played his fourth game on a minutes restriction as he continues his comeback from a right Achilles injury. ... Rockets G Ty Lawson returned from a three-game suspension resulting from his arrest in California last year for driving under the influence of alcohol.