Game ID: 22400422
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Houston Rockets
Friday, December 27, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
HOU 21 31 32 28 112MIN 22 35 19 37 113
HOU vs MIN ScoutingHOU vs MIN Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
HOU availability going into 12/19 · 4 days' restOUT Whitmore missed 10 since 11/22, returns tonight: 3 min (22% of 15)
OUT Dante missed 26 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 2 since 12/11, returns tonight: 15 min (126% of 12)
OUT Landale missed 7 since 11/27, returns tonight: 2 min (17% of 12)
OUT Jef. Green missed 9 since 11/23, out tonight
OUT Tate missed 2 since 12/11, returns tonight: 2 min (18% of 11)
BACK Eason back 12/11 after 2, 21 min since (86% of 24)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 37 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/22 · 2 days' restOUT Dante missed 27 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 10 since 11/23, out tonight
BACK Eason back 12/11 after 2, 21 min since (86% of 24)
BACK Whitmore back 12/19 after 10, 3 min since (22% of 15)
BACK Sheppard back 12/19 after 2, 15 min since (126% of 12)
BACK Landale back 12/19 after 7, 2 min since (17% of 12)
BACK Tate back 12/19 after 2, 2 min since (18% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 36 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/23 · back-to-backOUT Eason missed 2 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 28 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 11 since 11/23, returns tonight: 7 min (57% of 12)
BACK Whitmore back 12/19 after 10, 9 min since (57% of 15)
BACK Sheppard back 12/19 after 2, 11 min since (88% of 12)
BACK Landale back 12/19 after 7, 3 min since (23% of 12)
BACK Tate back 12/19 after 2, 9 min since (76% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 36 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Eason missed 3 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 29 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 12/19 after 10, 15 min since (97% of 15)
BACK Sheppard back 12/19 after 2, 13 min since (111% of 12)
BACK Landale back 12/19 after 7, 4 min since (30% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 12/23 after 11, 7 min since (57% of 12)
BACK Tate back 12/19 after 2, 11 min since (94% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 36 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/27 · back-to-backOUT Brooks missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Eason missed 4 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 30 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 12/19 after 10, 18 min since (117% of 15)
BACK Sheppard back 12/19 after 2, 15 min since (121% of 12)
BACK Landale back 12/19 after 7, 5 min since (42% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 12/23 after 11, 8 min since (67% of 12)
BACK Tate back 12/19 after 2, 12 min since (109% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 34 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks missed 3 since 12/23, returns tonight: 40 min (126% of 32)
OUT Eason missed 5 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 31 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 12/19 after 10, 17 min since (109% of 15)
BACK Sheppard back 12/19 after 2, 13 min since (104% of 12)
BACK Landale back 12/19 after 7, 5 min since (42% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 12/23 after 11, 8 min since (67% of 12)
BACK Tate back 12/19 after 2, 13 min since (116% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 35 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 1/01 · 2 days' restOUT Eason missed 6 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 32 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 2 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 2 since 12/27, out tonight
BACK Brooks back 12/29 after 3, 40 min since (126% of 32)
HOU availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restOUT Eason missed 7 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 33 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 2 since 12/29, returns tonight: 5 min (40% of 12)
OUT Landale missed 3 since 12/27, returns tonight: 5 min (42% of 12)
OUT Jef. Green missed 3 since 12/27, returns tonight: 29 min (250% of 12)
BACK Brooks back 12/29 after 3, 40 min since (126% of 32)
HOU availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 2 since 1/01, returns tonight: 41 min (126% of 32)
OUT Eason missed 8 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 34 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Brooks back 12/29 after 3, 37 min since (116% of 32)
BACK Sheppard back 1/03 after 2, 5 min since (40% of 12)
BACK Landale back 1/03 after 3, 5 min since (42% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 1/03 after 3, 29 min since (250% of 12)
NEW Whitmore 15 to 22 min over the last 5
NEW Tate 11 to 17 min over the last 4
MIN availability going into 12/19 · 3 days' restOUT Clark missed 9 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Dillingham back 12/13 after 5, 8 min since (83% of 10)
MIN availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Clark missed 10 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Dillingham back 12/13 after 5, 11 min since (109% of 10)
MIN availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Clark missed 11 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Dillingham back 12/13 after 5, 11 min since (109% of 10)
MIN availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Clark missed 12 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Dillingham back 12/13 after 5, 9 min since (86% of 10)
MIN availability going into 12/27 · 1 day's restOUT Clark missed 13 since 11/26, out tonight
MIN availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Clark missed 14 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Dillingham missed 2 since 12/25, out tonight
MIN availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Clark missed 15 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Dillingham missed 3 since 12/25, out tonight
MIN availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Clark missed 16 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Dillingham missed 4 since 12/25, out tonight
MIN availability going into 1/04 · 1 day's restOUT Clark missed 17 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Dillingham missed 5 since 12/25, out tonight
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 24 free throws a game; Brooks at 22 and Green at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Brooks (2 straight), Eason (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 111, shooting 43 percent and 37 from three, 16 free throws a game; Edwards at 21 and Randle at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-10 a night and Minnesota minus-2 and the line, where Houston takes 24 free throws a game to Minnesota's 16. Call it Houston 113, Minnesota 106.
12/19 vs NOP 133-113 — HOU notes
HOU won 133-113. HOU shot 57% (50 of 87) to NOP's 45%, 17 of 39 from three, and got to the line 19 times to NOP's 25. Ja. Green led with 34 (13 of 22, 4 of 10 from three); Brooks added 26, Sengun 23. The hinge was Q1, 39-25: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 26. VanVleet was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
12/22 @ TOR 114-110 — HOU notes
HOU won 114-110. HOU shot 45% (40 of 89) to TOR's 46%, 7 of 28 from three, and went to the line 33 times to TOR's 13 — 27 points from the stripe to their 9. The glass went 53-42 for them. Brooks led with 27 (6 of 12, 2 of 7 from three, 13 of 14 at the line); Green added 22, Sengun 17. The hinge was Q3, 33-26: HOU came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 1. HOU trailed 51-57 at the half and won the second half 63-53. Tate was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
12/23 @ CHA 114-101 — HOU notes
HOU won 114-101. HOU shot 43% (43 of 99) to CHA's 42%, 13 of 42 from three. The glass went 60-44 for them. Smith Jr. led with 21 (7 of 14, 2 of 5 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); VanVleet added 20, Thompson 19. The hinge was Q1, 31-15: from level to 16 ahead, and the lead reached 34. Smith Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
12/26 @ NOP 128-111 — HOU notes
HOU won 128-111. HOU shot 47% (46 of 97) to NOP's 43%, 18 of 47 from three. The glass went 54-44 for them. J. Green led with 30 (12 of 21, 6 of 11 from three); Whitmore added 27, VanVleet 25. The hinge was Q1, 39-22: from level to 17 ahead, and the lead reached 30. J. Green was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
12/27 vs MIN 112-113 — HOU notes
HOU lost 112-113. HOU took 9 more shots (92 to 83), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 49% to MIN's 51%, 10 of 30 from three. Sengun led with 38 (16 of 25, 6 of 10 at the line); Thompson added 20, VanVleet 18. Q3 was theirs, 32-19, turning a 5-point deficit into a 8-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 94-80 against them. They led by as many as 16.
12/29 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Green at 21 and Sengun at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Brooks (3 straight), Eason (5 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 106, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Herro at 23 and Adebayo at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Butler III (4 straight), Richardson (16 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-10 a night and Miami minus-4. Call it Houston 114, Miami 106.
1/01 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 108, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Sengun at 20 and Green at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Eason (6 straight). 2 days' rest. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Irving at 31 and Washington at 14 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Marshall (2 straight), Lively II (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-9 a night and Dallas minus-9 and the arc, Dallas at 37 percent from three to Houston's 33. Call it Houston 113, Dallas 109, Dallas keeping it close.
1/03 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 106, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Sengun at 21 and Green at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Eason (7 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Brown at 28 and Tatum at 26 a game. Without Porziņģis (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Boston at 40 percent from three to Houston's 34 and the turnovers, Houston giving it away 13 times a game to Boston's 9. Call it Houston 113, Boston 112, Boston keeping it close.
1/05 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 107, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Green at 22 and Sengun at 21 a game. Without Thompson (2 straight), Eason (8 straight). One day's rest. The Lakers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; James at 30 and Reaves at 24 a game. Without Vincent (3 straight), Vanderbilt (28 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, the Lakers at 38 percent from three to Houston's 33. Call it Houston 113, the Lakers 109, the Lakers keeping it close.
12/19 vs NYK 107-133 — MIN notes
MIN lost 107-133. MIN shot 46% (41 of 89) to NYK's 52%, 17 of 42 from three. The glass went 37-57 against them. Randle led with 24 (8 of 17, 4 of 8 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Edwards added 17, DiVincenzo 15. Q4 was theirs, 33-29, the deficit cut from 30 to 26, but the other 3 periods went 104-74 against them. Gobert's -37 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/21 vs GSW 103-113 — MIN notes
MIN lost 103-113. MIN shot 42% (36 of 86) to GSW's 46%, 14 of 38 from three. MIN turned it over 15 times to GSW's 10, and GSW turned those into 9 steals. Edwards led with 19 (6 of 20, 4 of 11 from three); DiVincenzo added 19, Gobert 18. Q3 was theirs, 38-29, the deficit cut from 13 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 84-65 against them. McDaniels's -12 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/23 @ ATL 104-117 — MIN notes
MIN lost 104-117. MIN took 18 more shots (91 to 73), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 43% to ATL's 53%, 14 of 43 from three, and got to the line 13 times to ATL's 26. Reid led with 23 (10 of 19, 3 of 10 from three); Randle added 19, Edwards 16. Q2 was theirs, 36-17, turning a 16-point deficit into a 3-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 100-68 against them. Edwards's -23 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/25 @ DAL 105-99 — MIN notes
MIN won 105-99. MIN shot 47% (40 of 86) to DAL's 41%, 14 of 32 from three. Edwards led with 26 (11 of 24, 4 of 7 from three); Randle added 23, Gobert 14. The hinge was Q2, 31-16: a lead of 2 became 17, and the lead reached 28.
12/27 @ HOU 113-112 — MIN notes
MIN won 113-112. MIN shot 51% (42 of 83) to HOU's 49%, 21 of 43 from three. Randle led with 27 (10 of 16, 5 of 6 from three); Edwards added 24, DiVincenzo 22. The hinge was Q4, 37-28: MIN came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 1. Reid was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
12/29 vs SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 16 free throws a game; Randle at 22 and Edwards at 20 a game. One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 32 and Sochan at 16 a game. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, San Antonio allowing 107 a night to Minnesota's 115. Call it Minnesota 111, San Antonio 110, San Antonio keeping it close.
12/31 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 103, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 18 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 34 and Jal. Williams at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Holmgren (21 straight), Caruso (3 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 110, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 17 free throws a game; Randle at 20 and Edwards at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 37 percent from three to OKC's 32 and the defense, OKC allowing 103 a night to Minnesota's 110. Call it OKC 114, Minnesota 104, OKC by 10.
1/02 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 110, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 15 free throws a game; Edwards at 20 and Randle at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. Boston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 105, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brown at 29 and Tatum at 25 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Porziņģis (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Boston takes 21 free throws a game to Minnesota's 15 and the turnovers, Minnesota giving it away 16 times a game to Boston's 12. Call it Boston 113, Minnesota 109, Minnesota keeping it close.
1/04 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Cunningham at 21 and Ivey at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Fontecchio (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 16 free throws a game; Randle at 21 and Edwards at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 42 percent from three to Detroit's 36. Call it Detroit 111, Minnesota 110, Minnesota keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MINAE A. Edwards
DD D. DiVincenzo
JM J. McDaniels
JM J. Minott
JR J. Randle
MC M. Conley
NA N. Alexander-Walker
NR N. Reid
RG R. Gobert
HOUAH A. Holiday
AS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
CW C. Whitmore
FV F. VanVleet
JG J. Green
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
JG Ja. Green
RS R. Sheppard
SA S. Adams
MIN/HOU the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Edwards hits winning 3-pointer to cap Timberwolves rally with 113-112 win over Rockets
HOUSTON -- — Anthony Edwards made a step-back 3-pointer with 23 seconds left to cap a furious rally and lift the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 113-112 win over the Houston Rockets Friday night.
The Rockets were up by by 12 with about three minutes left before a 10-0 run by the Timberwolves, highlighted by a 3-point play by Edwards, cut the lead to 110-108 with 90 seconds to go.
Alperen Sengun made 1 of 2 free throws after that, but Julius Randle 's dunk on the other end got Minnesota within 1. Sengun was fouled a second time and again made just 1 of 2 free throws to leave Houston up 112-110.
Edwards then sunk the 3-pointer to give Minnesota its first lead since midway through the third quarter.
The Rockets had a chance for the win, but Fred VanVleet 's 3-point attempt was off.
Randle had 27 points and Edwards added 24 as the Timberwolves won their second straight after losing three in a row.
Sengun had a season-high 38 points with 12 rebounds to lead the Rockets, who had a four-game winning streak snapped.
Takeaways Timberwolves: Edwards had scored just one point in the second half before his late-game heroics secured the win.
Rockets: Houston could have used Dillon Brooks for his defense down the stretch Friday night. He missed his third straight game with a sore right ankle.
Key moment The 3-pointer by Edwards.
Key stat The Timberwolves got the win despite being outscored 66-40 in the paint.
Up next Houston hosts Miami and Minnesota hosts San Antonio Sunday night.