Timberwolves beat Rockets 117-107 as Kuminga and Dosunmu lead late surge
Minnesota's second-half rally overcame a Houston team that lost for just the second time this season.
By Ryan Davidson ·
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Houston Rockets 117-107 on Wednesday night.
Ayo Dosunmu led Minnesota with 21 points, while Jonathan Kuminga provided the final push in the fourth quarter. The game was tied early in the second half, but the Wolves took control in the final five minutes. LaMelo Ball scored seven points during a 10-2 run that put Minnesota ahead 104-98 with five minutes left. Houston cut the deficit to two points when Fred VanVleet hit a three-pointer, but Kuminga answered with a three-pointer of his own. A steal by Dosunmu and a tip-in by Kuminga extended the lead to 111-104 with two minutes remaining. Kuminga hit another three-pointer with under a minute to play, making the score 114-106. The Rockets could not close the gap after that.
Alperen Sengun recorded his 13th career triple-double, finishing with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. Kevin Durant added 21 points for Houston, and VanVleet scored 18. The Rockets have lost only twice this season. For Minnesota, Kuminga finished with 16 points and eight rebounds. Jaden McDaniels contributed 14 points and eight rebounds. Ball scored 20 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter. This followed a game where he posted a season-high 34 points.
The Timberwolves played without star Anthony Edwards, who is out for up to two months after arthroscopic knee surgery. Guard Terrence Shannon Jr. also sat out with a bruised hip. In the second quarter, Kuminga received a flagrant foul 1 for elbowing Sengun in the jaw, knocking the Houston center to the floor.
The Timberwolves will travel to New Orleans on Friday night. The Rockets will go to Phoenix on Saturday night.
