Timberwolves rally into overtime, then sink against the Houston Rockets

Early within the second half Tuesday night time, Timberwolves followers at Goal Middle let the workforce have it after Donte DiVincenzo dedicated a turnover close to halfcourt that led to a simple dunk from Jalen Inexperienced with 7 minutes, 20 seconds left within the third quarter.

Boos rained down as Chris Finch known as timeout. The jeers had an impact, because the Wolves picked up their effort from there, however they couldn’t shut out a 117-111 extra time loss to the Rockets. The Wolves gave up a 102-97 lead on the finish of regulation, and the Rockets took management with 11 unanswered factors in extra time to clinch their group within the NBA in-season match.

The Wolves led by 5 late within the fourth quarter however didn’t rating within the ultimate 3 minutes, 12 seconds of regulation. They got here up with a number of empty possessions that allowed Houston to tie the rating at 112. Middle Rudy Gobert blocked Alperen Sengun’s shot with 15.2 seconds left earlier than an Anthony Edwards runner on the buzzer of regulation rimmed out and in and Edwards smacked the stanchion in frustration.

Edwards had 29 factors to steer the Wolves, who shot solely 24% from three-point vary.

“I didn’t actually like our effort and vitality within the first half,” Finch stated. “Discovered it within the second half, however we stored giving it again … making an attempt to do an excessive amount of all by ourselves offensively.”

The Wolves opened the sport with a lackadaisical defensive effort because the Rockets raced to a 20-11 lead within the opening six minutes. However the defensive depth returned as Finch went to his bench with Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Naz Reid.

“I believe from the way in which it feels, it seems like once we begin the sport, the opposite workforce is a bit more alert, a bit extra bodily,” middle Rudy Gobert stated. “We at all times take one quarter or one half to get going, and we get slapped within the face and hastily we notice that if we don’t react, we’re gonna get embarrassed. So we all know it. We’ve talked about it a number of weeks in the past, about beginning the video games higher. We obtained to seek out it.”

Edwards had 10 within the first quarter in opposition to Houston’s switch-heavy lineup, and the Wolves clawed their manner again to take a 35-32 lead within the second. However the Wolves’ on-ball protection once more let up later within the second and allowed Houston to shut with a 10-1 run for a 57-47 halftime lead.