Game ID: 22400037
Houston Rockets @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT1 Final
MIN 26 21 31 24 9 111HOU 32 25 27 18 15 117
HOU @ MIN ScoutingHOU @ 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.
MIN availability going into 11/15 · 1 day's restBACK Dillingham back 11/13 after 2, 9 min since (92% of 10)
MIN availability going into 11/17 · 1 day's restBACK Dillingham back 11/13 after 2, 6 min since (62% of 10)
MIN availability going into 11/21 · 3 days' restBACK Dillingham back 11/13 after 2, 6 min since (59% of 10)
MIN availability going into 11/24 · 2 days' restBACK Dillingham back 11/13 after 2, 7 min since (68% of 10)
NEW Conley 25 to 30 min over the last 3
MIN availability going into 11/26 · 1 day's restOUT Conley missed 2 since 11/21, out tonight
BACK Dillingham back 11/13 after 2, 9 min since (85% of 10)
MIN availability going into 11/27 · back-to-backOUT Conley missed 3 since 11/21, returns tonight: 32 min (130% of 25)
NEW Gobert 32 to 38 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 11/29 · 1 day's restOUT Clark missed 2 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Conley back 11/27 after 3, 32 min since (130% of 25)
NEW Gobert 32 to 38 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 12/02 · 2 days' restOUT Clark missed 3 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Conley back 11/27 after 3, 33 min since (132% of 25)
NEW Gobert 32 to 39 min over the last 5
MIN availability going into 12/04 · 1 day's restOUT Clark missed 4 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Dillingham missed 2 since 11/29, out tonight
BACK Conley back 11/27 after 3, 29 min since (119% of 25)
NEW Gobert 32 to 38 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 11/18 · back-to-backOUT Whitmore missed 6 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 14 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Jef. Green back 11/17 after 4, 13 min since (115% of 12)
HOU availability going into 11/20 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 7 since 11/08, returns tonight: 5 min (34% of 15)
OUT Dante missed 15 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Jef. Green back 11/17 after 4, 8 min since (68% of 12)
HOU availability going into 11/22 · 1 day's restOUT Dante missed 16 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 11/20 after 7, 5 min since (34% of 15)
BACK Jef. Green back 11/17 after 4, 7 min since (59% of 12)
HOU availability going into 11/23 · back-to-backOUT Dante missed 17 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 11/20 after 7, 5 min since (34% of 15)
BACK Jef. Green back 11/17 after 4, 7 min since (60% of 12)
HOU availability going into 11/26 · 2 days' restOUT Whitmore missed 2 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 18 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Jef. Green back 11/17 after 4, 7 min since (60% of 12)
HOU availability going into 11/27 · back-to-backOUT Whitmore missed 3 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Adams missed 2 since 11/23, returns tonight: 7 min (47% of 15)
OUT Dante missed 19 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Holiday missed 2 since 11/23, returns tonight: 6 min (46% of 13)
OUT Jef. Green missed 2 since 11/23, out tonight
OUT Tate missed 2 since 11/23, out tonight
HOU availability going into 12/01 · 3 days' restOUT Whitmore missed 4 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 20 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 3 since 11/23, out tonight
OUT Tate missed 3 since 11/23, out tonight
BACK Adams back 11/27 after 2, 7 min since (47% of 15)
BACK Holiday back 11/27 after 2, 6 min since (46% of 13)
HOU availability going into 12/03 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 5 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 21 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 2 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 4 since 11/23, out tonight
OUT Tate missed 4 since 11/23, returns tonight: 2 min (17% of 11)
BACK Adams back 11/27 after 2, 5 min since (35% of 15)
BACK Holiday back 11/27 after 2, 6 min since (46% of 13)
HOU availability going into 12/05 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 6 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 22 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 3 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 5 since 11/23, out tonight
BACK Adams back 11/27 after 2, 7 min since (47% of 15)
BACK Holiday back 11/27 after 2, 5 min since (43% of 13)
BACK Tate back 12/03 after 4, 2 min since (17% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 35 min over the last 5
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 112 a night and allowing 113, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Edwards at 28 and Randle at 25 a game. Without Conley (2 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 103, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 27 free throws a game; Sengun at 21 and VanVleet at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Whitmore (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-7 a night and Minnesota minus-4 and the defense, Houston allowing 103 a night to Minnesota's 113. Call it Houston 113, Minnesota 109, Minnesota keeping it close.
11/15 @ SAC 130-126 — MIN notes
MIN won 130-126 in 1 overtime. MIN shot 48% (48 of 101) to SAC's 50%, 20 of 49 from three. The glass went 41-51 against them. Edwards led with 36 (14 of 27, 6 of 14 from three); Randle added 26, Reid 16. The hinge was Q3, 36-28: a lead of 8 became 16, and the lead reached 20. Randle was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
11/17 vs PHX 120-117 — MIN notes
MIN won 120-117. MIN shot 52% (42 of 80) to PHX's 54%, 17 of 39 from three, and went to the line 26 times to PHX's 15 — 19 points from the stripe to their 11. MIN turned it over 14 times to PHX's 19. Randle led with 35 (11 of 20, 5 of 11 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Edwards added 24, DiVincenzo 15. The hinge was Q4, 34-27: MIN came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 3. MIN trailed 54-64 at the half and won the second half 66-53. Randle was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
11/21 @ TOR 105-110 — MIN notes
MIN lost 105-110. MIN took 8 more shots (80 to 72), fed by 10 offensive rebounds, but shot 41% to TOR's 51%, 12 of 35 from three, and got to the line 33 times to TOR's 39. Edwards led with 26 (9 of 20, 5 of 9 from three); Randle added 23, McDaniels 22. Q2 was theirs, 24-20, the deficit cut from 5 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 90-81 against them. Dillingham's -14 in 10 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/24 @ BOS 105-107 — MIN notes
MIN lost 105-107. MIN shot 42% (37 of 88) to BOS's 43%, 15 of 41 from three, and went to the line 21 times to BOS's 15 — 16 points from the stripe to their 12. Edwards led with 28 (9 of 21, 6 of 11 from three); Randle added 23, Dillingham 14. Q4 was theirs, 32-23, the deficit cut from 11 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 84-73 against them. McDaniels's -12 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/26 vs HOU 111-117 — MIN notes
MIN lost 111-117 in 1 overtime. MIN shot 43% (42 of 98) to HOU's 45%, 9 of 38 from three, and went to the line 20 times to HOU's 13 — 18 points from the stripe to their 12. MIN turned it over 17 times to HOU's 10, and HOU turned those into 12 steals. Edwards led with 29 (8 of 22, 3 of 12 from three, 10 of 10 at the line); Randle added 21, Reid 19. Q4 was theirs, 24-18, the deficit cut from 6 to 0, but the other 4 periods went 99-87 against them.
11/27 vs SAC — 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 114 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Edwards at 29 and Randle at 26 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Conley (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Sacramento comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Fox at 30 and DeRozan at 21 a game. That is 4 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Minnesota 114, Sacramento 111, Sacramento keeping it close.
11/29 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edwards at 27 and Randle at 25 a game. That is 4 straight losses. One day's rest. The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 100, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Harden at 26 and Zubac at 17 a game. They have won the glass by 9 a night. Without Powell (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-9 a night and Minnesota minus-2 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 100 a night to Minnesota's 113. Call it the Clippers 110, Minnesota 108, Minnesota keeping it close.
12/02 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 108, shooting 42 percent and 34 from three, 24 free throws a game; Edwards at 27 and Randle at 20 a game. 2 days' rest. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 19 free throws a game; Davis at 21 and James at 18 a game. Without Hayes (3 straight), Vanderbilt (14 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-2 a night and the Lakers minus-3 and the turnovers, Minnesota giving it away 16 times a game to the Lakers' 12. Call it Minnesota 112, the Lakers 108, the Lakers keeping it close.
12/04 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 108, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Harden at 29 and Zubac at 14 a game. Without Porter Jr. (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 102, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Edwards at 23 and Randle at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 40 percent from three to Minnesota's 35 and the defense, Minnesota allowing 102 a night to the Clippers' 108. Call it the Clippers 109, Minnesota 107, Minnesota keeping it close.
11/18 @ MIL 100-101 — HOU notes
HOU lost 100-101. HOU took 17 more shots (100 to 83), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 40% to MIL's 46%, 9 of 32 from three, and got to the line 13 times to MIL's 19. The glass went 53-43 for them. VanVleet led with 26 (9 of 23, 3 of 11 from three); Ja. Green added 21, Sengun 18. Q3 was theirs, 35-26, the deficit cut from 12 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 75-65 against them. They led by as many as 13.
11/20 vs IND 130-113 — HOU notes
HOU won 130-113. HOU shot 46% (47 of 102) to IND's 53%, 12 of 36 from three, and went to the line 33 times to IND's 25 — 24 points from the stripe to their 20. HOU turned it over 13 times to IND's 23. The glass went 47-36 for them. Sengun led with 31 (12 of 19, 6 of 8 at the line); Smith Jr. added 23, VanVleet 18. The hinge was Q3, 36-24: a lead of 9 became 21, and the lead reached 24. VanVleet was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
11/22 vs POR 116-88 — HOU notes
HOU won 116-88. HOU shot 45% (42 of 93) to POR's 33%, 15 of 39 from three. Brooks led with 28 (10 of 15, 6 of 8 from three); Eason added 22, Ja. Green 17. The hinge was Q1, 31-20: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 28. Eason was the night's best plus/minus at +33.
11/23 vs POR 98-104 — HOU notes
HOU lost 98-104. HOU shot 36% (32 of 90) to POR's 38%, 8 of 32 from three, and went to the line 33 times to POR's 23 — 26 points from the stripe to their 18. HOU turned it over 9 times to POR's 16. The glass went 43-53 against them. Sengun led with 22 (7 of 17, 8 of 11 at the line); Thompson added 19, Smith Jr. 14. Q2 was theirs, 29-26, the deficit cut from 5 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 78-69 against them. Green's -8 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/26 @ MIN 117-111 — HOU notes
HOU won 117-111 in 1 overtime. HOU shot 45% (45 of 99) to MIN's 43%, 15 of 37 from three, and got to the line 13 times to MIN's 20. HOU turned it over 10 times to MIN's 17. VanVleet led with 27 (10 of 25, 6 of 12 from three); Sengun added 22, Brooks 22. The hinge was Q1, 32-26: from level to 6 ahead, and the lead reached 18. Smith Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
11/27 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 109, shooting 42 percent and 30 from three, 21 free throws a game; McCain at 23 and Embiid at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without George (2 straight), Embiid (2 straight), Lowry (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 103, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Sengun at 21 and VanVleet at 16 a game. Without Whitmore (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-2 a night and Philadelphia minus-5. Call it Houston 110, Philadelphia 105.
12/01 vs OKC — 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 106, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 28 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and Green at 18 a game. Without Whitmore (4 straight). 3 days' rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 102, shooting 45 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 34 and Jal. Williams at 23 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Holmgren (9 straight), Caruso (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the line, where Houston takes 28 free throws a game to OKC's 19. Call it Houston 110, OKC 108, OKC keeping it close.
12/03 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 33 from three, 24 free throws a game; DeRozan at 25 and Fox at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Lyles (3 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 107, shooting 43 percent and 35 from three, 30 free throws a game; Sengun at 20 and VanVleet at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Whitmore (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 107 a night to Sacramento's 117 and the glass, where Sacramento has been plus-6 a night and Houston plus-0. Call it Houston 114, Sacramento 111, Sacramento keeping it close.
12/05 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 114, shooting 42 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Curry at 22 and Wiggins at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Post (8 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 113, shooting 42 percent and 34 from three, 29 free throws a game; Sengun at 22 and VanVleet at 20 a game. Without Whitmore (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the line, where Houston takes 29 free throws a game to Golden State's 18. Call it Golden State 113, Houston 112, Houston keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MINAE A. Edwards
DD D. DiVincenzo
JM J. McDaniels
JR J. Randle
NA N. Alexander-Walker
NR N. Reid
RD R. Dillingham
RG R. Gobert
HOUAS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
DB D. Brooks
FV F. VanVleet
JG J. Green
JL J. Landale
JS J. Smith Jr.
JG Ja. Green
RS R. Sheppard
TE T. Eason
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
Sengun records triple-double and Rockets beat Wolves 117-111 in OT to clinch NBA Cup group
MINNEAPOLIS -- — Alperen Sengun had 22 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, Fred VanVleet added 27 points and 11 assists, and the Houston Rockets pulled out a 117-111 overtime win against the Minnesota Timberwolves in an NBA Cup game on Tuesday night.
Dillon Brooks added 22 points for Houston, which improved to 3-0 in the competition and clinched West Group A and a spot in the NBA Cup quarterfinals.
Anthony Edwards had 29 points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota, which has lost three in a row. Julius Randle scored 21, while Naz Reid had 19 off the bench.
Rookie Rob Dillingham , the No. 8 pick in the draft out of Kentucky, had his best game of the season, helping to fill the void left by point guard Mike Conley , who missed his third straight game with a left great toe sprain. Dillingham had 12 points and season highs with seven assists and five rebounds.
Takeaways Rockets: This young team has shown it’s for real, particularly on the defensive end. It had 12 steals, nine blocks and forced the Wolves into 17 turnovers that led to 16 points.
Timberwolves: Regardless of the loss, Minnesota needed this type of performance after back-to-back losses and a narrow win over Phoenix, which was without Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal .
Key moment With 15 seconds left in regulation, Sengun got a pass on a drive to the basket for a potential layup, but Gobert came across for the block to keep the score tied. Edwards’ jumper on the other end was off the mark and the game went to overtime.
Key stat Houston shot 15 of 37 from 3-point territory, including a 10 of 18 in the first half to build its lead.
UP NEXT Both teams were playing the first game of a back-to-back set. Houston plays at Philadelphia on Wednesday night, while the Wolves stay home against Sacramento.