Wolves rally to force overtime, then fall apart against Rockets in NBA Cup loss

Houston put together an 11-0 run in the extra session to put the game away.

Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green drives against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards in the first quarter at Target Center in Minneapolis on Nov. 26, 2024. / Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

Every time the Timberwolves made a run, the Houston Rockets punched right back.

Minnesota rallied from an 18-point third-quarter deficit to force overtime, but the Rockets used an 11-0 run in the extra session to power their way to a 117-111 win in an NBA Cup group-play game Tuesday night in Minneapolis.

The Wolves (8-9) scored the first three points of overtime, but then things unraveled. There was an Amen Thompson 3-pointer, a bucket from Jabari Smith Jr. in the paint followed by another one from Alperen Sengun. Then Dillon Brooks scored inside, and Sengun got another, putting the Rockets up 113-105 with 54 seconds remaining. That would do it.

Minnesota could've put itself in a better position if it didn't dig itself an 18-point hole in the third quarter. The Rockets (13-6) closed the first half on a 10-1 run to take a 10-point lead at the half. Miscues in the third made the deficit grow larger.

"Same old thing, just not consistent all the way through the 48 (minutes)," Wolves coach Chris Finch said.

But for their part, the Wolves put together a furious rally over the final 16 minutes of regulation. Rob Dillingham was a big part of it, and his 3-pointer got Minnesota within a point. The Wolves finally took a lead with 4 minutes, 46 seconds left in the fourth quarter when Anthony Edwards made a pair of free throws. A runner from Dillingham put them up 100-97.

It was an impressive game from the Timberwolves rookie, who had 12 points and a career-high seven assists in 24 minutes of action. But Dillingham turned it over late in the fourth quarter to Thompson, whose bucket in transition knotted the game at 102-102. Edwards drove into the paint as time expired and had a look at a game-winning bucket, but it rimmed out to set up the overtime session. Edwards finished with a game-high 29 points and 10 rebounds.

Donte DiVincenzo got his second straight start in place of Mike Conley, who missed his third consecutive game due to a toe sprain. But DiVincenzo struggled, shooting just 1 of 5 and committing three turnovers. There was a particularly brutal stretch during the third quarter when he fouled away from the ball defensively, resulting in a free throw for Fred VanVleet, and turned it over the ensuing offensive possession to Jalen Green, who threw down a dunk in transition to make it 70-58.

DiVincenzo was subbed off after that and didn't see the court again.

Not long after, the Rockets took their largest lead of the night.

VanVleet scored a team-high 27 points for the Rockets to go along with 11 assists. Sengun had a triple-double with 22 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. Brooks finished with 22 points and three boards.

The Wolves have a quick turnaround, hosting the Sacramento Kings Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tipoff.