Houston Rockets Fight Off Minnesota T-Wolves 114-112 In OT

They never said it was going to easy — the Houston Rockets have now notched their 15th win of the season and it’s only early December.

The Minnesota Timberwolves were the Rockets’ next opponent and although they’re a young, inexperienced team they fought hard against another team that was rather young and inexperienced as well.

Yes, without our key starters playing in games — Dwight Howard, Patrick Beverley and Terrence Jones — the next men up, pretty much everybody outside of James Harden, Trevor Ariza and Jason Terry are learning on the fly.

And it seems that they’re having fun doing it!

I had a feeling that this game would be a bit closer and it was certainly the treat for Rockets’ fans needing an adrenaline rush.

The T-Wolves would not back down and Rockets found themselves fighting them off down to the wire.

Wow!

Anyway, let’s get to it!

Dec 5, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward

Thaddeus Young

(33) dribbles the ball around Houston Rockets forward

Donatas Motiejunas

(20) in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

The Rockets red-glare was brilliant early in with many of the guys being able to knock down the three-ball with Ariza and Terry taking turns from that area — their launch pad, their comfortable abode.

The two teams were virtually trading baskets until about the 2:54 mark toward the end of the 1st quarter when Donatas Motiejunas started a 7-0 run putting the Rockets up by 12 with with 1:17 left after Francisco Garcia nailed a three-pointer. Rockets 31, T-Wolves 19

But former Rocket Chase Budinger and Shabazz Muhammad teamed up to cut their deficit to six points with a free throw and two layups respectively. Rockets 31, T-Wolves 24

After two Nick Johnson free throws sunk to counter, the Rockets ended the 1st quarter being up by nine leading 33-24.

At the start of the 2nd quarter, the T-Wolves came out firing as the Rockets went cold as they eventually went on a 12-0 run leading the Rockets 42-37 with 5:09 left after two Muhammad free throws off an Ariza foul.

Harden stopped the bleeding with a three with the Rockets being down 42-40 with 4:59 left in the half.

And then we’d see something quite amazing…

Dec 5, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Houston Rockets guard

James Harden

(13) dribbles the ball in the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

For the next 3 1/2 minutes, Harden literally took on the team’s scoring load by scoring 16 straight points to tie the game at 53-all with 1:25 left.

After Zach LaVine drove in for a layup, Motiejunas answered with his own while Budinger was able to sink a jump shot with 4.5 seconds left allowing the T-Wolves to lead at the half by two points. T-Wolves 57, Rockets 55

At the start of the 3rd quarter, Harden got hungry and lead a quick-minute 5-0 run allowing the Rockets to take a 63-59 lead with 7:24 left.

It was certainly a battle of the pendulum as the Rockets would go on quick runs to take a lead and the T-Wolves would answer getting right back into the game.

The Rockets would lead 84-73 at the end of the third after a Brewer jump shot.

Dec 5, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward

Shabazz Muhammad

(15) shoots the ball around Houston Rockets forward Donatas Motiejunas (20) and guard James Harden (13) in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

At the start of the 4th quarter, Terry hit a three to help push the Rockets lead up further in addition to some healthy contributions from Kostas Papanikolaou and Garcia to put the Rockets up 90-77 with 9:12 left.

The Rockets had control until the team started to turn the ball over and commit fouls to allow the T-Wolves to benefit from the gimmes the team was doling out.

The T-Wolves would use the Rockets’ misfortunes by going on a 8-0 run to cut the Rockets’ lead to two with 3:30 left in regulation. Rockets 96, T-Wolves 94

Harden would once again stop the run with another three-pointer, putting the Rockets up by five with 3:14 left. Rockets 99, T-Wolves 94

It was crunch time and the adrenaline rush was flowing as things were getting mighty close!

Brewer would eventually knock down a three and Thaddeus Young would provide a power dunk with to tie the game at 99-all with 2:19 left.

The Rockets and T-Wolves then started to play an organized game of chess as the teams were anticipating each other’s move and were using strategy in regard to how to defend it.

Andrew Wiggins would help the T-Wolves take the lead once again by two with a layup leading the Rockets 101-99.

After the Rockets got the ball back, Harden drove toward the basket and the refs bought what Harden sold once again with Brewer fouling on the play.

Harden would sink both free throws to tie the game back at 101-all.

On the next possession, LaVine pulled up for a jumper with Harden on defense drawing his 6th foul of the game, in a rare disqualification from competition.

Things seemed bleak without Harden in the game but D-Mo took charge, keeping the Rockets in the game and were tied at 105-all at the end of regulation.

This was after Budinger had a chance for the win but missed his jump shot with 0.7 seconds left in the game.

Overtime!

Dec 5, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Houston Rockets guard

Jason Terry

(31) shoots the ball between Minnesota Timberwolves forward

Jeff Adrien

(12) and forward

Anthony Bennett

(24) in the second half at Target Center. The Rockets won 114-112 in OT. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

D-Mo would continue to the lead the surge and the Rockets would take a brief four-point lead after a Terry three-ball 2:49 left in OT. Rockets 110, T-Wolves 106

Young and Wiggins would both chip in layups to answer tying the game back at 110-all with 1:53 left.

Terry then drew a foul off Young allowing him to sink two free throws for the Rockets to take a 112-110 lead with 25.3 seconds left.

On the following possession, Young countered with a running hook shot to tie the game back at 112-all with 15.9 left leading to a timeout being called.

Who was going to be the hero?

We were about to find out.

Terry was at the top of the key ready to pull up but noticed an open Nick Johnson on the right wing — he ferociously drove all the way in with almost unfettered access to the basket and scored with a layup putting the Rockets up 114-112 with 0.8 seconds left!

Timeout!

Dec 5, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Houston Rockets forward

Trevor Ariza

(1) shoots the ball over Minnesota Timberwolves forward

Chase Budinger

(10) in the second half at Target Center. The Rockets won 114-112 in OT. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

The T-Wolves then drew up a quick play putting Young at the top of the key — he had a good look but missed badly sealing the deal for the Rockets!

This team continues to win despite the challenges that they face!

With Harden out the next man came up big! I’m happy for Johnson and I knew he’d make a healthy contribution to the team immediately, especially with the injuries our starters are enduring at the moment.

It wasn’t the greatest of nights statistically all-around for the Rockets but they did shoot 48.7 percent from the field (38-for-78), 37.5 from behind-the-arc (12-for-32), and 83.9 percent (26-for-31) from the charity stripe.

The team had 22 turnovers — Harden had eight of those.

Even with him fouling out, he had 38 points, four rebounds and six assists including going 13-for14 from the free throw line leading all Rockets scorers in 36 minutes of action.

Terry definitely was a key contributor with 19 points, six dimes and four rebounds in a season-high 42 minutes of action.

Ariza shot the ball a bit better from the field last night — he ended up with 17 points and nine rebounds off going 6-for-15 on field goals.

D-Mo chipped in 13/8 in 39 minutes of action.