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Rockets aim to bounce back vs. Wolves

Nov 23, 2013 - 3:45 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Houston Rockets hope to get back into the winner's circle Saturday night when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves at Toyota Center.

Houston had a three-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday with a 123-120 road loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Sadly, that wasn't close to the most points allowed this season by the Rockets. That would be the 137 the Los Angeles Clippers posted on Nov. 4.

"We never could get a handle on them. All game long they were scoring," said Houston head coach Kevin McHale. "We just couldn't get them stopped the whole game. Dirk (Nowitzki) and (Monta) Ellis got what they wanted."

Nowitzki had 35 points, while Ellis scored 37. The Mavericks shot 58.3 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond the 3-point line.

Houston hoisted up 31 3-point attempts and made only 12 of them. The Rockets did shoot 55 percent from the field and were paced by Dwight Howard, who scored 33 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.

James Harden managed 23 points, followed by 21 and 11 assists for Chandler Parsons. Terrence Jones is thriving in the starting lineup, scoring 18 points on Wednesday. Omar Casspi chipped in 11 off the bench.

Minnesota will play two straight and four of five road games, and has lost three in a row away from the Twin Cities. In Friday's 111-81 home win over the Brooklyn Nets, all five starters scored in double figures and Kevin Love led the way with 17 points and 16 rebounds.

Kevin Martin also scored 17 points, while Corey Brewer and Nikola Pekovic scored 15 points apiece for the Wolves, who scored 22 points off 20 Brooklyn turnovers. Ricky Rubio had 12 points and eight assists.

"We had 28 assists and eight turnovers. It was a good win," said Minnesota coach Rick Adelman. "We needed to get this one before we go on the road and they went out and got it."

The win snapped a two-game slide for Minnesota.

Houston took two of three from the T'Wolves last season, but has dropped four of the last six encounters. Minnesota has captured three of the last four in Houston.