Karl-Anthony Towns scored a game-high 31 points as the Timberwolves won their third straight game with Tuesday’s 114-107 victory (box score) over the Rockets at Toyota Center. Houston tied the game with under three minutes left, but Minnesota went on a 12-2 run to put it away.
The Rockets had strong showings from Christian Wood (24 points, 18 rebounds), Kelly Olynyk (28 points, 9 rebounds), and Jae’Sean Tate (20 points, 7 rebounds), but they weren’t able to offset a 2-of-12 shooting night (16.7%) by second-year guard Kevin Porter Jr. in the backcourt. One of those makes came in the game’s final 20 seconds, once the game had long been decided. Porter is now Houston’s permanent starter at point guard after the season-ending hamstring injury to John Wall.
Minnesota also had strong games from rookie forward Anthony Edwards (19 points, 9 rebounds) and reserve big man Juancho Hernangomez.
With the loss, Houston (15-47) may have sealed its fate as the NBA’s worst team in the 2020-21 season. Minnesota (19-44) entered Tuesday with the second-worst mark, but they’re now 3.5 games ahead with less than 10 games remaining in their regular season. Orlando (18-43) now owns the second-worst record by percentage points, but they have three more wins than Houston and a much easier remaining schedule.
The good news is this game created a rare test for a young Rockets team to see how they would respond in the final minutes of a very close game. The bad news is they failed the test miserably.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) April 28, 2021
See below for a compilation of highlights and postgame reaction following Tuesday’s loss at Toyota Center. The Rockets return to action on Thursday night when they host former teammate PJ Tucker and the Milwaukee Bucks, with tipoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Central.
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https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=kT9EnmfutL-1281902-7498&format=json&offsetx=0&offsety=0&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right&float=on
Christian Wood had a career-high 5 assists tonight, and his 18 rebounds were the second-highest of his career (trailing only his 19 on Friday). He's scoring a lot, as he always does, but is clearly working to impact the game in other areas, as well. #Rockets
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) April 28, 2021
Forgettable season for the Rockets but Christian Wood has been a revelation.
24/18/5 tonight. 21 PPG, 10 RPG on 52 FG% for the season. pic.twitter.com/ozs7xAUWmz
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 28, 2021
Stephen Silas: "It tells you a lot about this season. If you have rest and you have practice, then you can play well." #Rockets
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) April 28, 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq_daSASP_k
I asked Jae'Sean Tate about all the ROY praise he's been getting: "The awards and all the recognition will come with hard work and just continuing to go out there and giving 110%…Just trying to be consistent and not cheat the game." #Rockets
pic.twitter.com/ktNIqMvAkb— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) April 28, 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYUwuK_ZaSY
Christian Wood (@Chriswood_5): “I just want to show fans that by the time this contract’s up I think I’m gonna be a max (contract) player..I just have to play with a chip on my shoulder.God willing,with no injuries,I think next season’s gonna be even better & I’ll be even better”
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) April 28, 2021
I asked Rockets center Christian Wood about him developing into a leader for Houston this season. He also believes that he will be a max-contract player in the future. #Rockets @Chriswood_5 pic.twitter.com/E7X316VB46
— BIG SARGE MEDIA LLC (@BigSargeSportz) April 28, 2021