Timberwolves outscore Rockets 35-23 in fourth, win 117-107

Jonathan Kuminga hit a 3-pointer with 54 seconds left to put the Minnesota Timberwolves ahead for good, and they beat the Houston Rockets 117-107 on Wednesday, November 4, after scoring 35 in the fourth quarter.

Kuminga finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists, and made four of seven 3-pointers. The game had 26 lead changes and 14 ties, and neither side pulled clear until the last five minutes, which began with Minnesota up 102-98.

Kevin Durant made two free throws with 1:47 left to cut the lead to 111-106. Kuminga answered off a Rudy Gobert pass, and LaMelo Ball found Gobert for an alley-oop with 40.5 seconds left to make it 116-106. Houston did not score another basket.

Houston's largest lead was five, late in the first quarter, but Minnesota led 33-30 after one. The Timberwolves outscored the Rockets 15-9 in the final five minutes and 35-23 in the fourth.

Ayo Dosunmu led Minnesota with 21 points on 10-of-20 shooting and had no turnovers. Ball scored 20 with four 3-pointers and three steals, though he committed seven turnovers. Nah'Shon Hyland added 19 points off the bench in 16 minutes, and the reserves outscored Houston's 38-29.

Gobert grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked four shots. Minnesota played without Terrence Shannon Jr., out with a left hip contusion.

Durant led Houston with 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting. Alperen Sengun had a triple-double of 17 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, but made five of 15 shots. Fred VanVleet scored 18. The Rockets made 24 of 30 free throws, and Amen Thompson's free throw set the final score.

Minnesota had an effective field goal percentage of 61.5 to Houston's 50.6. The Timberwolves (6-3) won as the underdog, with pregame projections giving Houston a 70.5 percent chance. The Rockets fell to 7-2.

Up next

Timberwolves: at the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, November 6.

Rockets: at the Phoenix Suns on Saturday, November 7.