Rockets advance in NBA Cup with OT win over Wolves

Field Level Media|published: Tue 26th November, 22:57 2024

NBA: Houston Rockets at Minnesota Timberwolves

Nov 26, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) drives against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) in the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

Alperen Sengun tallied a triple-double and the Houston Rockets outlasted the Minnesota Timberwolves for a 117-111 overtime win in an NBA in-season tournament matchup Tuesday night in Minneapolis.

Sengun amassed 22 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds while Fred VanVleet finished with 27 points and 11 assists for Houston, which clinched the West Group A title with a 3-0 mark and will advance to the quarterfinals. Dillon Brooks scored 22 points, and Jabari Smith Jr. finished with 19 points on 8-for-9 shooting.

Minnesota's Anthony Edwards produced 29 points and 10 rebounds, but his last-second shot attempt to win the game in regulation rimmed in and out of the basket. Julius Randle scored 21 points and Naz Reid contributed 19 points off the bench for the Timberwolves, who fell to 1-2 in West Group A.

An 11-0 run in overtime fueled the Rockets' victory. Houston trailed 105-102 before the surge, which started with a 3-pointer by Amen Thompson and ended with a basket by Sengun to give Houston a 113-105 advantage with 54 seconds left in the extra session.

The score was tied at 102-all at the end of regulation.

Randle made a driving layup to give the Timberwolves a 102-97 lead with 3:12 to go.

Houston finished the fourth quarter with five straight points on a 3-pointer by VanVleet and a basket by Thompson with 38 seconds to go.

At the end of the third quarter, the Rockets held on to an 84-78 edge. Minnesota finished the period on an 11-0 run. Edwards scored six points during that span, including a three-point play on a layup and free throw with 49.8 seconds left.

Houston led 57-47 at the half.

The Rockets jumped to a 22-11 lead in the first 6 1/2 minutes. Brooks made a basket off an assist from Sengun to finish the early scoring binge.

Minnesota pulled within 47-46 on a layup by Randle with 2:53 left in the first half.

Houston responded with a 10-0 run to regain a double-digit lead. Smith logged eight straight points on back-to-back 3-pointers and a 2-point basket, and VanVleet finished the run with a driving layup with 26 seconds to go in the half.

--Field Level Media

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