T-Wolves overcome Harden’s 42 to top Houston 121-111
Ma three-point play with 1:43 left in the third to give Minnesota an 85-76 lead.
Harden’s 12-footer made it 89-all in the fourth before the Timberwolves hit four 3-pointers to take a six-point lead. Harden hit three-straight 3-pointers to pull Houston within 115111 with 1:52 to play. But Okogie dunked and forced Harden into an airball, and Towns hit a layup to give Minnesota just enough breathing room.
“You could feel the whole game there wasn’t enough enthusiasm, not enough want,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “When we do that, we struggle because we’re not physical like the other teams.”
Harden shot 15 of 34 from the field, including 8 of 22 from 3-point range. He passed the 30-point mark on his 15th fourpoint play of the season, getting Okogie in the air with a step-back 3 to put Houston up 74-67 midway through the third. It was also his 22nd 40-point game of the season.
He wasn’t in a mood to say much about it afterward.
“To me, we have no tendencies right now. The tendency is just to come out slow in the third quarters,” he said.
Minnesota outscored Houston 70-36 in the paint, as the Timberwolves used sharp passes to find several open layups.
“The way they’re scoring was almost effortless,” Houston guard Chris Paul said. “We just couldn’t stop them. Teague lived the paint. Guys were driving. I think we’re 0-2 against them, so we’ve got to be better.”
Rockets: D’Antoni said C Clint Capela is expected to practice next week to determine if he can play next Thursday at the Lakers. Capela missed his 15th game with a right thumb injury suffered at Orland on Jan. 13 . ... Gerald Green scored 10 points off the bench in the first quarter, including 2 of 3 from the arc.
Timberwolves: Teague is averaging 19.3 points and nine assists in his three games since returning from a sore left foot . ... F Andrew Wiggins missed his second straight game with an illness. F Robert Covington (knee) and G Tyus Jones (ankle) missed their 20th and 13th games, respectively . ... Dario Saric again started in place of Taj Gibson. He scored 10 first-quarter points on 4-of4 shooting to help give the Timberwolves an early eight-point lead.
Rockets: At Los Angeles next Thursday.
Timberwolves: At New York a week from Friday.