HOUSTON (AP) — Jalen Green put on a show with an impressive 35-point performance, while Alperen Sengun contributed significantly with 24 points and 13 rebounds as the Houston Rockets secured a hard-fought 121-115 victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night. Green showcased his scoring prowess by going 12 of 24 from the field, including sinking 5 of 11 three-point attempts. Amen Thompson also had a standout game, chipping in 17 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists for Houston, who shot an efficient 50% from the field, connecting on 13 of 26 three-point shots.
In a much-anticipated return to action after a 22-game absence due to a broken bone in his left hand, Jabari Smith Jr made an impact off the bench with 15 points and nine rebounds. On the opposing side, Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 37 points on 13-of-32 shooting, though struggling from beyond the arc with a 4-of-14 performance on three-pointers. Edwards’ hot first half included 25 points on 8-of-15 shooting, with 3 of 7 made three-pointers. Naz Reid added 22 points and eight rebounds, Jaden McDaniels contributed 21 points, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker tallied 16 points for Minnesota, who shot 45% from the field, making 11 of 39 three-point attempts.
Key takeaways from the game include the return of Mike Conley to the Timberwolves’ lineup after missing four games due to a sprained right index finger, but his impact was limited as he struggled with fouls, finishing with five points in 24 minutes. The Rockets’ coach Ime Udoka highlighted before the game the importance of Jabari Smith Jr’s return in boosting the team’s rebounding effort, which proved to be effective as Houston outrebounded Minnesota 48-35.
The decisive moment of the game came when Jalen Green drained a clutch 3-pointer to break the tie at 108 with five minutes remaining, sparking a pivotal 9-2 run by Houston to establish a seven-point lead with 48 seconds left. A notable statistic from the game was Anthony Edwards’ struggles in the fourth quarter, where he went 1 for 6 from the field, including 1 of 4 on three-point attempts, managing only 3 points as Houston’s defensive strategy successfully contained him with double teams.
Looking ahead, Minnesota will host Oklahoma City on Sunday night, while Houston hits the road to face Utah on Saturday night. For more NBA news and updates, visit AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA.
