National Basketball Association
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
By SportsDirect Inc.
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.