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(Sports Network) - Two of the worst teams in the Western Conference early this season meet in south Texas Sunday as the winless Houston Rockets host the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves.
Things were supposed to be shaky in Minneapolis as the Wolves entered their second season of rebuilding under coach Kurt Rambis, but Houston was supposed to be back in the postseason hunt after the return of All-Star center Yao Ming, who missed all of 2009-10 season after surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot.
Instead the Rockets are the NBA's lone remaining winless team after a 124-121 overtime setback in San Antonio last night. Tony Parker scored seven of his 21 points in the extra frame of that one and added 14 assists, as the Spurs held off Houston.
The Rockets should be able turn things around tonight against Minnesota, a team they have dominated recently. Houston has won 11 straight against the Wolves, including seven consecutive at Toyota Center.
Despite leaving in the third quarter with a left ankle sprain Kevin Martin scored 24 points for the Rockets, who are off to an 0-5 start for the first time since the 1999-2000 campaign, against the Spurs. Luis Scola added 20 points and eight boards, while Aaron Brooks had 18 points despite leaving at halftime, also with a left ankle sprain.
Houston missed a trio of three-pointers in the final seconds.
"I'm proud of the guys the way they played and battled back and had the chance to win," Rockets head coach Rick Adelman said. "They're big players; they make big shots. You know [Manu] Ginobili made shot after shot, Parker made a couple jumpers. We made two crucial mistakes in the overtime and it cost us."
Yao, who is averaging 12.7 points and 7.3 rebounds this season, missed last night's contest in an effort to limit his minutes to try and keep the oft- injured big man healthy. The Chinese star is expected back in the lineup tonight. Meanwhile, both Martin and Brooks will be evaluated Sunday, and it remains to be seen if either can play against the Timberwolves.
The Wolves suffered their latest loss in the Twin Cities on Friday when Josh Smith scored 20 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out six assists, as the Atlanta Hawks stayed perfect on the season with a 113-103 victory over Minnesota at Target Center.
Rookie Wesley Johnson, Kevin Love, and Corey Brewer each had 18 points for the Timberwolves, who have lost four in a row overall. Michael Beasley added 16 points and six boards, while Love pulled down 12 rebounds.
"It's frustrating when you can't get stops," Beasley said. "We were getting everything we wanted on our end, we just couldn't stop them on the other side of the floor. It's something we have to work on and get better at."
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Scola, Martin Lead Rockets Past Timberwolves, 120-94
(Sports Network) – Luis Scola ended with 24 points and Kevin Martin added 21 to lead the Houston Rockets to their first victory of the season, a 120-94 defeat of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jordan Hill provided 14 points off the bench for the Rockets, who dropped their opening five games and were the NBA’s last winless team. Yao Ming scored 13 in a little under 17 minutes.
Houston, which made 39-of-47 free throws, recorded its 12th consecutive victory over Minnesota.
Kevin Love had 16 points and 16 boards to pace the Timberwolves, who have lost five in a row.
Houston took control with a run late in the first quarter. Already ahead by five, the Rockets got two foul shots from Courtney Lee before Chase Budinger sank two from the line on a flagrant foul. Lee followed with a three, and Chuck Hayes got a layup to fall to cap the nine-point burst.
Corey Brewer followed with a jumper to end the frame and get Minnesota within 26-14, but Houston maintained control in the second. Yao scored 11 in the quarter while Martin had 12 points, including a three that capped a seven- point flurry and had the Rockets ahead 52-30 with 3:03 left.
Houston took a 60-37 lead to the break.
Scola’s 13 points powered the Rockets in the third quarter, after which they held a 97-67 advantage, allowing them to cruise to the finish.
Game Notes
Nikola Pekovic had 12 points and 11 boards off the bench for the Timberwolves, who got 15 points from Michael Beasley. Brewer ended with 10 points…Minnesota had 17 turnovers, compared to seven for the Rockets…The Timberwolves continue their three-game road trip Tuesday in Los Angeles against the Lakers…Houston next embarks on a three-game trip, starting Wednesday in Washington.
Nov 07 10:14p by Christopher Gates - 0 comments