In a back-and-forth game that saw multiple lead changes, the Minnesota Timberwolves emerged victorious over the Houston Rockets, securing a 117-107 win.
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets went head-to-head in an absolute barnburner of a game, with the Wolves ultimately coming out on top 117-107.
The Final Score Tells the Story
- The Timberwolves' 10-point lead in the fourth quarter proved to be too much for the Rockets to overcome.
- LaMelo Ball led the way for Minnesota with 20 points, while Ayo Dosunmu chipped in with 21.
- For Houston, Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun combined for 17 points, but it wasn't enough to secure a win.
The Timberwolves' Bench Stepped Up
Bones Hyland and Jaden McDaniels both had big games off the bench, with Hyland scoring 19 points and McDaniels adding 14 points and 8 rebounds.
Joan Beringer also contributed with 4 points and 7 rebounds in just 13 minutes of play.
The Rockets' Struggled
Despite the efforts of Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, and Fred VanVleet, the Rockets were unable to overcome their opponents' strong performance.
Amen Thompson had a solid game with 11 points and 8 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to propel his team to victory.
By the Numbers: Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 33 | 24 | 25 | 35 | 117 |
| Houston Rockets | 30 | 27 | 27 | 23 | 107 |
Points by quarter
| Player | Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayo Dosunmu | Minnesota Timberwolves | 4 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 21 |
| Kevin Durant | Houston Rockets | 10 | – | 7 | 4 | 21 |
| LaMelo Ball | Minnesota Timberwolves | 8 | – | – | 12 | 20 |
| Bones Hyland | Minnesota Timberwolves | 7 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 19 |
| Fred VanVleet | Houston Rockets | 8 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 18 |
| Alperen Sengun | Houston Rockets | – | 8 | 8 | 1 | 17 |
| Jonathan Kuminga | Minnesota Timberwolves | 3 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 16 |
| Jaden McDaniels | Minnesota Timberwolves | 6 | 2 | 6 | – | 14 |
Top 5 by points
| # | Player | Team | Points | Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ayo Dosunmu | Minnesota Timberwolves | 21 | 21 pts · 1 reb · 6 ast · FG 10-20 · 34 min |
| 2 | Kevin Durant | Houston Rockets | 21 | 21 pts · 5 reb · 2 ast · FG 7-14 · 35 min |
| 3 | LaMelo Ball | Minnesota Timberwolves | 20 | 20 pts · 2 reb · 6 ast · FG 6-11 · 31 min |
| 4 | Bones Hyland | Minnesota Timberwolves | 19 | 19 pts · 2 reb · 4 ast · FG 7-13 · 16 min |
| 5 | Fred VanVleet | Houston Rockets | 18 | 18 pts · 3 reb · 3 ast · FG 6-12 · 30 min |
Best on the night
- Alperen Sengun (Houston Rockets): 17 pts · 12 reb · 10 ast · FG 5-15 · 39 min
- Ayo Dosunmu (Minnesota Timberwolves): 21 pts · 1 reb · 6 ast · FG 10-20 · 34 min
- LaMelo Ball (Minnesota Timberwolves): 20 pts · 2 reb · 6 ast · FG 6-11 · 31 min
Rough night
- Marcus Smart (Houston Rockets): 4 pts on FG 1-5, 2 turnovers, 4 fouls in 18 min
- Trey Lyles (Minnesota Timberwolves): 5 pts on FG 2-3, 0 turnovers, 1 fouls in 20 min
- Jaylen Clark (Minnesota Timberwolves): 10 pts on FG 4-6, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls in 25 min
Fouls
Team fouls: Minnesota Timberwolves 25 · Houston Rockets 20.
Injuries and absences
- Steven Adams (Houston Rockets) — Out: Head coach Ime Udoka said Monday that Adams could be out "a week or two" due to his right soleus strain, Lachard Binkley of SI.com reports.
- Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves) — Out: Edwards underwent a successful arthroscopic procedure on his right knee Thursday, the Timberwolves announced.
- Donte DiVincenzo (Minnesota Timberwolves) — Out: DiVincenzo (Achilles) remains confident that he'll return during the 2026-27 season, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic reports.
- Cody Williams (Minnesota Timberwolves) — did not play (COACH'S DECISION)
- Isaiah Evans (Minnesota Timberwolves) — did not play (COACH'S DECISION)
- Rocco Zikarsky (Minnesota Timberwolves) — did not play (COACH'S DECISION)
- Zyon Pullin (Minnesota Timberwolves) — did not play (COACH'S DECISION)
- Jae'Sean Tate (Houston Rockets) — did not play (COACH'S DECISION)
- Isaiah Crawford (Houston Rockets) — did not play (COACH'S DECISION)
- Clint Capela (Houston Rockets) — did not play (RIGHT ANKLE SPRAIN)
- Bruce Thornton (Houston Rockets) — did not play (COACH'S DECISION)
The Key Players Who Made It Happen
I'm still trying to wrap my head around LaMelo Ball's performance. He led the way with 20 points, but what really caught my attention was his ability to draw fouls and get to the free throw line. He's been working on that aspect of his game all season, and it paid off tonight.
Ayo Dosunmu also deserves a shoutout for his 21 points. He's been playing some great basketball lately, and it's clear he's found his groove in Minnesota. The way he moves without the ball is incredible – always seems to be in the right spot at the right time.
What This Win Means for the Timberwolves
This win is a huge confidence booster for the Timberwolves, and it's clear they're starting to gel as a team. With their strong bench play and ability to close out games, I think they've got a real shot at making some noise in the playoffs.
Of course, there are still plenty of challenges ahead – they'll need to keep up this level of performance if they want to stay in contention. But for now, it's all about enjoying the momentum and building on this win.
The Bench Battle: Who Came Out On Top
I was blown away by the Timberwolves' bench performance tonight. Not only did Bones Hyland and Jaden McDaniels have huge games, but Joan Beringer also chipped in with 4 points and 7 rebounds in just 13 minutes of play. That's what I call depth – and it's a big reason why the Wolves were able to pull away from the Rockets.
But what really caught my eye was the way Hyland and McDaniels worked together on both ends of the court. They're like two peas in a pod, anticipating each other's moves and making plays that left me screaming at the TV (in a good way, of course!). It's clear they've developed a strong chemistry, and it's paying off big time.
Meanwhile, the Rockets were struggling to find their rhythm tonight. Despite the efforts of Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, and Fred VanVleet, they just couldn't seem to get over the hump. And it's not like they didn't have opportunities – Amen Thompson had a solid game with 11 points and 8 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to propel his team to victory.
I think part of the problem was that the Rockets' players just couldn't get into a groove tonight. Durant and Sengun are usually so reliable, but they were both off their game tonight. And VanVleet, who's been playing some great basketball lately, just couldn't seem to find his shot.
With this win, the Timberwolves move closer to securing a spot in the playoffs. The Rockets, on the other hand, will need to regroup and refocus if they hope to make a push for the postseason.
