Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets

· National Basketball Association

Minnesota Timberwolves

27-15, 12-9 Away

Final
105 - 110

Houston Rockets

24-15, 13-3 Home

Kevin Durant's season-high 39 points and clutch free throws lift Rockets over Timberwolves

KD makes it clear that he still brings the energy

Alperen Sengun added 25 points with 14 rebounds to help the Rockets bounce back after a blowout loss to Oklahoma City Thursday night.

A 6-2 run by the Timberwolves, with four points from Julius Randle, got them within 105-102 with about 90 seconds to go. Sengun fouled out soon after that and Jaden McDaniels made one of two free throws to get Minnesota within two points.

Durant made two free throws with under a minute left before Randle turned the ball over and Durant was fouled again. He made two more free throws with 22.1 seconds left to seal the victory.

Durant’s big shooting night came after he was 0 for 5 on 3-pointers against the Thunder.

Randle had season-high 39 points for the Timberwolves on a night when Anthony Edwards missed a second straight game with a foot issue.

The Timberwolves trailed by six points after a basket by Bones Hyland before Rudy Gobert missed a chance to close the gap by missing three of his next four free throws. Houston remained up by 5 later in the fourth, but a dunk by Sengun extended the lead to 103-96 with 3½ minutes left.

Neither team shot well from the free throw line, with Houston making just 20 of 34 and Minnesota going 20 for 35. Gobert had the worst night, going 2 for 10 on free throws.

Naz Reid added 25 points with 10 rebounds off the bench for the Timberwolves, who scored at least 100 points in their 100th straight game, which is the third-longest such streak in NBA history.

Up next Timberwolves: Visit San Antonio on Saturday night.

Rockets: Host New Orleans on Sunday night.

Regular Season Series

HOU leads series 1-0

Recent Plays

4th 0.0	End of Game	105 - 110
4th 0.0	End of the 4th Quarter	105 - 110
4th 0.0	Timberwolves offensive team rebound	105 - 110
4th 0.0	Bones Hyland misses heave jump shot	105 - 110
4th 1.3	Jabari Smith Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2	105 - 110

Statistics

MIN		HOU
37-80	FG	39-84
46	Field Goal %	46
11-30	3PT	12-28
37	Three Point %	43
20-35	FT	20-34
57	Free Throw %	59
45	Rebounds	42
12	Offensive Rebounds	10
33	Defensive Rebounds	32
21	Assists	19
7	Steals	10
7	Blocks	5
14	Turnovers	12
2	Team Turnovers	2
16	Total Turnovers	14
1	Technical Fouls	2
1	Total Technical Fouls	2
0	Flagrant Fouls	0
22	Points Conceded Off Turnovers	16
25	Fast Break Points	16
42	Points in Paint	50
27	Fouls	23
12	Largest Lead	9
9	Lead Changes	9
68	Percent Led	28