Timberwolves use third-quarter surge to defeat Rockets 117-107
LaMelo Ball and Ayo Dosunmu combined for 41 points while Jonathan Kuminga sealed the win with late-range shots against Houston.
By Oliver Bennett ·
The NBA schedule features frequent matchups between high-scoring offenses, but Wednesday night’s game between Minnesota and Houston was defined by volatility rather than steady dominance. The visiting Timberwolves defeated the Rockets 117-107 in a contest that saw 26 lead changes and 15 ties.
LaMelo Ball and Ayo Dosunmu anchored the Minnesota attack. Ball recorded 20 points, shooting 4-for-7 from beyond the three-point line. Dosunmu added 21 points and six assists. Their combined 41 points and 12 assists provided the offensive engine for the visitors.
The game swung decisively in the third quarter. With 4:53 remaining, Ball pushed the Timberwolves to a 104-98 lead. He hit a three-pointer, assisted on a three-pointer by Jaylen Clark, and finished with a driving layup in that sequence. The Rockets, who led for much of the early game, struggled to respond.
Jonathan Kuminga provided the final blows down the stretch. With 1:51 left, he hit a corner three-pointer and then secured a second-chance basket to extend the lead to 111-104. He added another three-pointer from in front of the visiting bench with less than a minute remaining. Kuminga finished the game with 16 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
Houston’s offense was led by Kevin Durant, who scored 21 points. Alperen Sengun posted his 13th career triple-double with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. Fred VanVleet contributed 18 points. The Rockets committed 18 turnovers, a defensive failure that Minnesota converted into 33 points.
The first half was a mirror image of the second. The teams traded the lead frequently. Reed Sheppard hit a three-pointer early to help Houston take a 25-23 lead. However, Durant picked up his third foul with 15 seconds left in the first quarter, allowing Minnesota to take a 33-30 lead into the second. The halftime score was 57-57 after two free throws by Amen Thompson with less than a second left on the clock.
Minnesota’s perimeter shooting was efficient enough to close out the game. The team went 15-for-35 from behind the arc. The Rockets shot 55% in the first period, including 6-for-10 from three, but could not sustain that pace. Bones Hyland contributed 19 points off the bench for Minnesota, while Sheppard finished with 14 points for Houston.
