Durant’s 39 points power Rockets past Timberwolves

Alperen Şengün added 25 points and 14 rebounds, helping the Rockets bounce back after a tough loss to Oklahoma City the night before, AP reported.

The Timberwolves made a late push with a 6-2 run, including four points from Julius Randle, narrowing the score to 105-102 with about 90 seconds left. Şengün fouled out shortly afterward, and Jaden McDaniels made one of two free throws to bring Minnesota within two.

Durant responded with two free throws under a minute remaining. Randle then committed a turnover, and Durant was fouled again. He sank two more free throws with 22.1 seconds left to seal the win.

Durant’s stellar shooting performance came after he struggled the previous night, missing all five of his 3-point attempts against the Thunder.

Randle scored a season-high 39 points for Minnesota, but the Timberwolves were missing Anthony Edwards, who sat out due to a foot injury.

The Timberwolves had a chance to close the gap after Rudy Gobert missed three of four free throws, and Bones Hyland’s basket put the Rockets up by six. However, a dunk by Şengün extended Houston’s lead to 103-96 with 3½ minutes left.

Both teams struggled at the free-throw line, with the Rockets making 20 of 34 attempts and the Timberwolves converting 20 of 35. Gobert had the toughest time, finishing 2 for 10 from the line.

Naz Reid added 25 points and 10 rebounds off the bench for the Timberwolves, who scored at least 100 points for the 100th consecutive game, marking the third-longest streak in NBA history.

Up next