HOUSTON — The short-handed and overachieving Rockets (17-16) were no match for the Western Conference’s best team by record, the Minnesota Timberwolves (25-9), in Friday night’s resounding 122-95 loss (box score) at Toyota Center.
Likely All-Star guard Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 24 points, while Karl Anthony-Towns added 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. The Rockets were again missing two of their best defenders in Dillon Brooks (right oblique strain) and Tari Eason (sore left leg).
Brooks is expected to miss at least one more game, though the Rockets are hopeful that Eason could return Saturday.
Jalen Green led the Rockets with 20 points in 31 minutes, shooting 4-of-8 from 3-point range (50.0%). Alperen Sengun added 19 points and 5 rebounds on 8-of-17 shooting (47.1%), with Rudy Gobert (13 points, 12 rebounds) largely holding Sengun in check after a fast start.
Led by Towns and Gobert, the larger Timberwolves had their way on the glass with a 59-45 rebounding advantage. Between that edge and a 14-of-33 night from 3-point range (42.4%) for the Timberwolves as a team, there was little the Rockets could do to flip the script.
Here’s our look at highlights and postgame interviews, along with reaction by media members and fans. The homestand concludes Saturday versus Milwaukee (25-10), with tipoff at 7:00 p.m. Central.