National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Houston 120, Minnesota 110
When: 8:00 PM ET, Friday, March 27, 2015
Where: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
Officials: #19 James Capers, #58 Josh Tiven, #66 Haywoode Workman
Attendance: 18322

Rockets 120, Timberwolves 110:
James Harden had 33 points, eight assists and five steals as Houston clinched a playoff spot with a win against visiting Minnesota.

Dwight Howard scored 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting for the Rockets, who have won six of seven after shooting 20-of-44 from the arc. Josh Smith collected 16 points and three 3-pointers, Trevor Ariza had four 3-pointers en route to 14 points and Harden chipped in six hoops from beyond the arc as Houston moved within one-half game of Memphis for the second spot in the West.

Andrew Wiggins scored 31 points for Minnesota, which has lost 13 of 16. Chase Budinger had a season-high 23 points and Gorgui Deng added 18 for the Timberwolves.

Harden and Jason Terry drained two 3-pointers apiece and Smith added a fifth as the Rockets jumped to a 31-22 edge after one. Smith opened the second quarter with another shot from the arc and a layup before Howard slammed home an alley-oop feed from Smith for a 16-point lead, and after Minnesota got within eight, Ariza and Terry drained 3-pointers during a 9-2 spurt to restore order.

Harden drained three of the Rockets' five 3-pointers in the third to counter eight points by Adreian Payne and two 3-pointers by Zach LaVine to take a 90-80 edge into the fourth. Howard slammed home two hoops and Pablo Prigioni added another shot from the arc as Houston pushed to a 15-point edge, and Minnesota never got closer than eight thereafter as Ariza and Terry hit two 3-pointers apiece down the stretch.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Wiggins scored 11 points in the second quarter over the final 4:46 to cut a 15-point deficit by five points. … Terry was 5-of-6 from the arc and finished with 17 points. … The Timberwolves were 6-of-14 from the arc and 30-of-34 from the line.
Top Game Performances
 
Minnesota   Houston
Andrew Wiggins 31 Scoring James Harden 33
Zach Lavine 8 Assists Josh Smith 11
Gorgui Dieng 12 Rebounds Corey Brewer 10
Andrew Wiggins 12 Free Throws Made James Harden 9
Lorenzo Brown 3 Steals James Harden 5
Gorgui Dieng 1 Blocks Josh Smith 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Minnesota 110 48.7 6-14 30-34 26 31 1 6 14
Houston 120 53.0 20-44 12-17 34 41 6 10 18
Upcoming Games
  • Houston will play their next game on the road against Washington. The Rockets have a W/L % of .653 after a win and .739 after a loss.
  • Minnesota will play their next game on the road against New Orleans. The Timberwolves have a W/L % of .118 after a win and .255 after a loss.