Russell, Edwards help Timberwolves beat Rockets 104-96

Updated Jan. 8, 2023 9:30 p.m. ET

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D’Angelo Russell scored 22 points and Anthony Edwards added 21 as the Minnesota Timberwolves overcame a big early deficit to beat the Houston Rockets 104-96 Sunday night for their fourth straight win.

Minnesota scored the first 11 points of the fourth quarter to take an 88-81 lead. Rudy Gobert had four points in that span and Taurean Prince added a 3-pointer. Houston missed six shots and had a turnover to help the Timberwolves go on top.

Kenyon Martin Jr. had a dunk for Houston’s first points of the quarter, but Minnesota scored the next six points to push the lead to 94-83 with about six minutes to go.

An 8-2 run by Houston, with 3s by Kevin Porter Jr. and Martin, got the Rockets within five points a couple of minutes later. But Gobert got a dunk for the Timberwolves, starting a 6-0 spurt that made it 102-91 with about two minutes left to secure the victory.

Porter had 25 points and Alperen Sengun added 18 for the Rockets, who dropped their seventh in a row. Jalen Green had a tough game, making just four of 15 shots overall, including just one of six 3-point attempts to finish with nine points.

The Rockets led by as many as 20 points early, but the Timberwolves cut the lead to 62-58 by halftime.

Edwards made the first five points of the second half to put Minnesota up 63-62. Porter made a 3 for Houston before the Timberwolves scored the next seven points, with a 3 by Russell, to extend the lead to 70-65.

Porter made a 3 to end the run before both teams went on a scoring drought, with neither scoring for almost 2 ½ minutes. Jabari Smith Jr. scored the next points on a jump shot with about six minutes left in the quarter and his free throw a few second later put Houston on top 71-70.

A basket by Prince gave the Timberwolves a one-point lead later in the third quarter. But Houston scored the last five points of the period to take an 81-77 lead into the fourth.

TIP-INS

Timberwolves: Gobert had 18 points and 11 rebounds. ... Jaden McDaniels had 12 points and nine rebounds. … Prince scored 14.

Rockets: Martin had 12 points off the bench. … Eric Gordon added 11 points with four assists. … Houston made just 11 of 36 3-pointers.

UP NEXT

Timberwolves: Visit Detroit on Wednesday night.

Rockets: Play consecutive games at Sacramento on Wednesday and Friday to start a four-game trip.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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Minnesota Timberwolves

National Basketball Association

D'Angelo Russell

Taurean Prince

Kevin Porter Jr.

Rudy Gobert

Anthony Edwards

Houston Rockets

Minnesota Timberwolves