Timberwolves Beat Rockets 117-107 as LaMelo Ball Takes Over Late Without Anthony Edwards

The Minnesota Timberwolves went to Houston without Anthony Edwards and beat the Rockets 117-107 on Wednesday night. They pulled away in the fourth quarter of a game that featured 15 ties and 26 lead changes.

Minnesota improved to 6-3. Houston dropped to 7-2, its second loss of the season, though Bleacher Report noted the Rockets still hold the best record in the Western Conference.

How the Timberwolves won

For three quarters, this was a coin flip. Minnesota led 33-30 after the first quarter, and the teams went into halftime tied 57-57.

The game turned midway through the fourth. According to Sports Illustrated’s Timberwolves site, LaMelo Ball scored or assisted on 15 straight Minnesota points over about four minutes, turning a three-point deficit into a four-point lead. Field Level Media reported that Ball’s 3-pointer, an assist on a Jaylen Clark 3 and a driving layup put the Wolves up 104-98 with 4:53 left.

Jonathan Kuminga closed it out. He hit a corner 3 and a second-chance basket that made it 111-104 with 1:51 left. With less than a minute to play, he hit another 3 in front of the Minnesota bench to put the game away.

Ayo Dosunmu and the Wolves’ key numbers

Ayo Dosunmu led Minnesota with 21 points and six assists. Ball finished with 20 points, going 4-of-7 from 3-point range. Bones Hyland added 19 off the bench.

Field Level Media listed Kuminga with 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists. SI’s writeup gave him 18 points. SI also said his four 3-pointers were a career high.

Stats as reported by Bleacher Report.

Ball’s night wasn’t clean. SI noted he had only eight points for much of the game, along with six turnovers and three fouls in a 24-second span in the third quarter. He still delivered when Minnesota needed him.

What went wrong for Houston?

Turnovers hurt the Rockets most. Houston gave the ball away 18 times, and Minnesota turned those into 33 points. Kevin Durant scored 10 in the first quarter but picked up his third foul with 15 seconds left in the period. He finished with 21.

Alperen Sengun posted his 13th career triple-double with 17 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Reed Sheppard added 14 points.

Minnesota made 15 of 35 3-pointers but struggled at the line, going 10-of-19. Rudy Gobert made just 2 of 6 free throws.

Why the win matters for Minnesota

Edwards is recovering from knee surgery and, according to Bleacher Report, could be out until at least December. SI called this the Wolves’ best win of the season so far. It also gives Minnesota a 1-0 lead in the season series, with three more meetings to come. That head-to-head record is the first playoff tiebreaker.

FAQ