Rockets 107 - 89 Timberwolves
Final
  for this game

Howard, Rockets dispatch Timberwolves

Feb 11, 2014 - 5:14 AM

Video

Minneapolis, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - Dwight Howard had 18 points and 15 rebounds and the Houston Rockets pulled away from the Minnesota Timberwolves, 107-89, on Monday night.

Chandler Parsons tallied 20 points and six assists, while James Harden added 19 points for Houston, which has won a season-high six straight games.

"We didn't try to rush shots and rush down the floor and take bad shots. We took our time, shared the ball and got good shots," Howard said.

Minnesota was still without two of its starters, guard Kevin Martin (thumb) and center Nikola Pekovic (ankle), but did get All-Star Kevin Love back. He missed two of his team's last three games due to seperate injuries. He sat out last Wednesday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a stiff neck, and couldn't go during Saturday's loss to the Portland Trail Blazers because of a bruised left quadriceps.

Love had 31 points and 10 boards for the Wolves, who have dropped four consecutive tilts.

Minnesota head coach Rick Adelman missed Monday's game for personal reasons. Terry Porter filled in for him, as he did during Adelman's 11-game absence in January of 2013, reportedly for spending time with his ailing wife.

"Unfortunately for us, we couldn't make shots," Porter said. "Guys that normally make shots struggled."

After Howard's bank shot staked Houston to an 81-66 lead a little past the midway point of the third, the Wolves countered with a 12-1 run to close the frame to get back in it.

Love had six points during the surge, including a bank shot to cap it and whittle the deficit to 82-78 after three.

The Rockets, though, netted the first 11 points of the fourth to regain control.

Parsons' dunk gave Houston a 93-78 cushion with 6:24 to go and the Rockets cruised to an easy win from there.

Earlier, Houston led 34-28 after a quarter of play and 67-58 at the break.

Game Notes

Houston scored 20 points off 17 Minnesota turnovers ... Chase Budinger had 15 points and seven rebounds for the Wolves against his former team ... Minnesota shot just 35.6 percent (31-of-87).






Related News