Timberwolves make it a game -- but also a loss -- after Rockets score 48 in first quarter

Chris Hine, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Feb 22, 2025

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HOUSTON – The Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves met for the fourth and final time this season, and each matchup had a playoff-like intensity to it.

The Wolves again entered shorthanded down not just Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo but also Rudy Gobert, who was still battling back spasms the plagued him before the All-Star break.

With their defense struggling early and their offensive struggling late, the Wolves dropped this one to the Rockets 121-115.

With the score tied 108-108, the Wolves went 2 minutes, 38 seconds without a point, and Houston was able to take a 113-108 lead. Alperen Sengun hit a fadeaway to give Houston a 115-110 lead with 1:11 to play before an Anthony Edwards miss set up a clinching bucket from Jalen Green, who finished with 35 points.

Edwards had 37 to lead the Wolves but went 13-for-32 from the floor. He was 1-for-6 in the fourth quarter. Naz Reid battled foul trouble most of the second half defending Sengun and had 22. Jaden McDaniels had 21 but was 1-for-7 from three-point range. Sengun added 24 points and 13 rebounds on 8-for-21 shooting.

The Rockets, who were without Fred VanVleet, came out hot as they hit 13 of their first 15 shots and shot 74% in the first quarter. With Gobert still out with back spasms, Houston attacked the Wolves in the paint in isolation and found success. The Rockets were hitting from the outside as well, as they opened the night 5-for-6 from three-point range.

With 7 minutes, 9 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Edwards picked up a technical foul, his 13th of the season, complaining that Tari Eason fouled him on a dunk attempt. Three more technicals and Edwards will receive a suspension from the league.

Even with the Wolves hitting seven of their first 12 shots, Houston opened up a 35-21 lead less than seven minutes into the game. But Edwards and McDaniels kept the Wolves hanging around even as the team’s defense struggled. Edwards had 15 in the quarter while McDaniels had eight as the Wolves closed the first quarter 17-13 after falling behind 14. Late in the quarter, coach Chris Finch also received a technical and got up from the bench yelling at one of the officials, “I didn’t say anything.”

Reid took over early in the second quarter as Edwards sat and rattled off seven quick points to bring the Wolves within three as Mike Conley picked up his third foul of the half. After a dunk that got the bench off its feet and a steal from Rob Dillingham, the Wolves tied the game 55-55 on an Edwards three. The Wolves would take a short-lived lead on an Edwards dunk, 65-63. The Wolves defense hunkered down in the second and held Houston to 20 points on 8-for-23 shooting.

The half ended in wild fashion as Jaylen Clark hit a circus shot at the buzzer, but it came just after the horn sounded. Then Green picked up a technical as he was arguing with officials going into the break that he was fouled on the play before Clark’s shot. Houston went into the locker room ahead 68-67. Before the half, ESPN cameras caught Edwards jawing with a fan as he was headed to the tunnel. Team staff members kept them separated and got Edwards to the locker room without incident.

Reid picked up his fourth foul with 7:08 remaining in the third. At that point he had 18 points and the Wolves were down 80-76. With Luka Garza subbing in at center, the Wolves were able to keep it close thanks to nine points from Edwards in the third. But as the quarter came to a close, the Rockets went on a 10-2 run to take a 98-91 lead before taking a five-point edge into the fourth. Aaron Holiday had eight of his 10 points off the bench in the third.

Reid picked up his fifth foul with 9:18 to play in the fourth, but when he reentered with under six minutes left, he grabbed an offensive rebound that led to a Nickeil Alexander-Walker three and a tie game at 108-108.

Gobert remains out

Edwads (hip) and Conley (dislocated finger) were able to play while Gobert had not recovered from back spasms that kept him out of the final game before the All-Star break. Gobert joined Randle (groin) and DiVincenzo (toe) on the bench. He was able to practice Thursday but looked in obvious discomfort in the Wolves locker room before the game.