HOUSTON – On Friday, Feb. 21, the Houston Rockets faced off against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Toyota Center in Houston in their first game following the NBA All-Star game.
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In a game that was largely neck-and-neck the whole way, the Rockets made enough plays late to walk out with a 121-115 win.
Jalen Green led the Rockets in scoring with 35 points, with Alperen Sengun scoring 24 of his own. Anthony Edwards led the way for the Timberwolves, scoring 37.
The Rockets came out firing on all cylinders, scoring 48 points in the first quarter alone, tying the franchise’s record for points in a quarter. This was also their highest-scoring quarter of the season and the fifth 48-point quarter in franchise history.
Houston was also extremely efficient from beyond the arc, finishing with a 13-of-26 (50%) mark from three as a team. On the contrary, Minnesota shot just 11-of-39 (28.2%) from long range.
After the game, Rockets’ head coach Ime Udoka said the Timberwolves’ lack of rim protection gave Houston the freedom to flood the lane and kick the ball out to shooters, contributing to the Rockets’ efficient three-point numbers.
“Obviously, we’re gonna take those looks,” Udoka said.
Houston was without starting point guard Fred VanVleet, as he continues to recover from an ankle injury he suffered in the Rockets’ loss to the Nets on Feb. 1.
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Minnesota was significantly more hampered, as starters Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert were both sidelined, and Donte DiVincenzo—a key contributor off the bench—was also out.
The Rockets also welcomed Jabari Smith Jr. back into the lineup after he missed 22 games with a hand fracture he suffered during a practice on Jan. 3.
In his return, Smith finished with 15 points and nine rebounds.
“It felt great,” Smith said after the win. “It felt great to be out there with my brothers and compete.”
Despite typically being in the starting lineup, Smith came off the bench in his first game back. This was an unfamiliar role for Smith, who hasn’t come off the bench since ninth grade of high school.
Even so, he said he was ready to play when his number was called.
“It was different, as far as [my routine],” Smith said. “After the anthem and stuff, it was like I was just floating around, not really knowing what to do. But when you get in the game, it doesn’t really matter, honestly.”
This was Houston’s fourth and final game against Minnesota during the 2024-25 regular season. After losing two of the first three matchups, tonight’s win helped the Rockets split the season series.
The win lifts Houston to a 35-21 record on the season, good for fourth place in the Western Conference. The Rockets’ next game is tomorrow night, where they’ll be visiting the Utah Jazz. Tip off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.
Game recap
First quarter
Alperen Sengun got things started for the Rockets, connecting on a pair of shots close to the basket and some early free throws. In the game’s first few minutes, Jabari Smith checked in for the first time since getting injured last month, and the hometown crowd welcomed him back with a thunderous applause.
The Timberwolves jumped out to a 12-11 lead, but Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks connected on shots beyond the arc to fuel an 12-4 scoring run, making the score 23-16. A few possessions later, Smith scored his first points in his return, connecting on a three-pointer from 24 feet out.
Green continued hitting shots from everywhere on the court, with Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards countering with tough baskets of his own. Smith buried another three-ball in the closing minute, but Edwards matched it on Minnesota’s next possession. The Rockets ended the quarter with a 48-38 lead, solidifying their highest scoring quarter of the year.
Second quarter
After the first period’s offensive eruption, the second quarter was much more of a defensive slugfest. Sengun and Amen Thompson scored early for Houston, but big shots from Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid helped Minnesota chip away at Houston’s once comfortable lead.
With just under two minutes left in the quarter, Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored from midrange to tie the game at 63. Edwards scored on the T-Wolves next possession to give them their first lead since the opening period.
Sengun and Green scored on back-to-back possessions to help Houston regain its lead, but Edwards responded with a layup to bring the score within one. Minnesota’s Jaylen Clark made a layup right as the halftime buzzer sounded, but a booth review determined that he got the shot off a little too late. The Rockets led 68-67 at the break.
Third quarter
The back-and-forth nature of the second quarter bled into the third, and the teams traded the lead in the first minutes of the period. Green, Thompson and Sengun all provided offense for Houston in the third, while Minnesota continued to lean on Edwards and Reid for offense.
After the T-Wolves regained a one-point lead, Green found Smith for a contested three-point jumper, which he buried. The crowd roared, but the Timberwolves responded right away with a bucket with a foul, courtesy of Edwards.
The Rockets scored again, but Edwards scored on a deep two to snatch the lead right back. Aaron Holiday connected on a pair of threes and some free throws to give Houston a seven-point advantage, which felt like a much bigger lead than eight, given how tight of a contest it had been. Luka Garza added some free throws, but Houston still led 98-93 after three quarters.
Fourth quarter
The teams traded blows in the early stages of the fourth, with Sengun continuing to generate offense inside the paint. After some points from both teams, Alexander-Walker tied the game up at 108 with a three. On the next possession Green splashed a contested three from the left wing to put the Rockets back in front.
The scoring died down again down the stretch. In the final minute, the Rockets were up 113-110, when Sengun scored from nine feet out to make it a five-point game. After Edwards bricked a three, Green added a layup to extend Houston’s lead to seven with under a minute to play.
Green and Thompson made their late free throws to snuff out the Timberwolves’ hopes of a miracle, and the Rockets escaped with a 121-115 victory.
