Final
Timberwolves send Rockets to seventh straight loss
Jan 20, 2013 - 6:59 AM Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Andrei Kirilenko led six Minnesota players in double figures with 21 points as the Timberwolves downed the Houston Rockets, 92-79, at Target Center on Saturday.Luke Ridnour added 16 points and Chris Johnson had 15 for the Timberwolves, who snapped a five-game skid. Johnson had 13 of his points in the final quarter.
"At times I really didn't know what to do offensively," Johnson admitted. "I had to get more familiar with the offense. They just put me in the right spots to be successful tonight and just made good plays."
Derrick Williams, J.J. Barea and Mickael Gelabale finished with 11 points apiece in the triumph.
James Harden had 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists, and Carlos Delfino added 15 points for the Rockets, losers of seven straight games.
"I'm not playing to the best of my ability," Harden said of Houston's losing skid. "I'm not making shots, not making plays and I think we're just kind of in a fog right now and we've got to find some way to get out of this fog."
Jeremy Lin and Greg Smith added 12 points apiece in the setback.
Minnesota led 21-16 after the first quarter and took a 44-38 lead into the break after leading by as many as 11 in the second quarter.
Houston, though, outscored Minnesota 21-19 in the third to go into the final period trailing 65-59. The Rockets scored the final seven points of the period.
Johnson personally outscored the Rockets, 6-3, over the first three minutes of the fourth to give the Wolves a 71-62 lead. Houston was within 84-77 with 3:06 left following Harden's jumper.
Johnson countered with a dunk to start an 8-0 run that sealed the outcome.
Game Notes
Minnesota outscored Houston, 40-28, in the paint ... The Wolves shot 46.9 percent (30-for-64) from the field while holding the Rockets to 32.1 percent (25-for-78) efficiency ... Kirilenko also had 11 rebounds and three steals ... Harden and Lin went a combined 8-for-30 from the floor.
- HOUSTON: 79
MINNESOTA: 92
Final
Jan 19 10:29 PM - HOUSTON: 57
MINNESOTA: 63
End of 3rd
Jan 19 9:54 PM - HOUSTON: 38
MINNESOTA: 44
Halftime
Jan 19 9:10 PM - HOUSTON: 16
MINNESOTA: 21
End of 1st
Jan 19 8:34 PM - HOUSTON: 0
MINNESOTA: 0
1st Quarter - 11:41
Jan 19 8:11 PM
Related News
- NBA Injury Updates: Karl Anthony Towns and Ben Simmons to Miss Significant Time Mar 7
- Knicks Robbed By Late Call on Jalen Brunson Feb 13
- Houston Rockets vs. Indiana Pacers game preview Dec 26
- Alperen Sengun’s career night lifts Rockets over Pelicans 106-104 Dec 24
- Wolves 110, Kings 98: Ant Crowned the King Dec 24
- LISTEN: Kiss Of Death, Episode 70: Regular Season Game 27 - Rockets defeat Pelicans Dec 23
- Game Preview #28: Wolves at Kings Dec 23
- Rockets hope to snatch one from Pelicans before Christmas Dec 23
- Wolves’ NBA 2K24 Ratings Jump as Team Continues To Soar Dec 23
- LISTEN: Kiss Of Death, Episode 69: Regular Season Game 26 - Rockets defeat Mavericks Dec 23
- Houston Rockets vs. New Orleans Pelicans game preview Dec 23
- Rockets dump shorthanded Mavericks 122-96 Dec 23