Timberwolves use late run to defeat Rockets 117-107
Jonathan Kuminga and Ayo Dosunmu led a fourth-quarter surge that secured the win for Minnesota in their absence of Anthony Edwards.
By Rosa Fuentes ·
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Houston Rockets 117-107 on Wednesday night after a decisive fourth-quarter run. Jonathan Kuminga provided the momentum shift with a three-pointer, a steal by Ayo Dosunmu, and a tip-in that extended the lead to 111-104 with two minutes remaining. Kuminga later hit another three to push the margin to 114-106 with under a minute left.
Dosunmu finished with 21 points, while LaMelo Ball scored 20. Ball scored 12 of his points in the fourth quarter, following a previous game where he set a season high with 34 points. The Timberwolves were already missing star Anthony Edwards for up to two months due to arthroscopic knee surgery. They also played without guard Terrence Shannon Jr., who sat out his second straight game with a bruised hip.
Kuminga finished with 16 points and eight rebounds. Jaden McDaniels added 14 points and eight rebounds for Minnesota. The Rockets lost for only the second time this season despite Alperen Sengun recording his 13th career triple-double. Sengun tallied 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. Kevin Durant scored 21 points, and Fred VanVleet contributed 18 for Houston.
Houston led by two points midway through the fourth quarter before Ball scored seven points during a 10-2 run. That sequence gave the Timberwolves a 104-98 lead with about five minutes to play. The Rockets closed to within 104-102 about a minute later after VanVleet hit a three-pointer. Kuminga was flagged for a foul one in the second quarter after elbowing Sengun in the jaw.
The Timberwolves will visit New Orleans on Friday night. The Rockets will travel to Phoenix on Saturday night.
