Rockets 112, Timberwolves 101
HOUSTON -- Guard Aaron Brooks scored a season-high 26 points off the bench as the Houston Rockets drained 17 3-pointers in a 112-101 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night at Toyota Center.
The Rockets (9-5) relied on a balanced scoring attack to offset another fabulous performance from Timberwolves forward Kevin Love, whose 27 points and 15 rebounds paced a resilient effort bolstered by the Rockets' miscues. Minnesota scored 37 points off 24 Houston turnovers.
Houston nailed 15 3-pointers in a 123-117 overtime loss at Philadelphia on Nov. 13. Brooks was the catalyst in setting a new standard, making 6-of-7 treys. Guard Patrick Beverley added 17 points on 5-of-8 3-point shooting while forward Terrence Jones (18 points, 10 rebounds) and center Dwight Howard (11 points, 13 boards) added double-doubles.
Forward Corey Brewer tallied 22 points for the Timberwolves (8-7). Guard Kevin Martin scored 19 points while the Timberwolves' bench produced just 12 points, less than half of Brooks' game-breaking total.
With leading scorer James Harden sidelined by a sore left foot, the Rockets needed someone to help fill the void created by his absence. Brooks, with one double-digit scoring game on his ledger thus far and a grand total of four points over his last six appearances, stepped forward.
Brooks poured in 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting in the second quarter, including 4-of-5 from behind the arc. His blitz started almost immediately with a 3-pointer just 41 seconds into the period and, after the Timberwolves cut their 12-point deficit in half when guard Alexei Shved capped a possession that included four offensive rebounds with a layup, Brooks sandwiched a layup and another 3 around a Howard putback.
By the time Brooks nailed two additional 3-pointers, the Rockets had rebuilt their double-digit lead to 49-37. Houston closed the period with its last four baskets coming from behind the arc and led 55-42 at intermission.
NOTES: Rockets G James Harden missed his second game with a sore left foot that has plagued him most of the season. After ranking sixth in the NBA at 38.3 minutes per game last season, Harden is fourth this season at 39.3. ... This season marks the third time Timberwolves G Kevin Martin has played for coach Rick Adelman. Martin spent his first two seasons under Adelman in Sacramento before playing 104 games for the Rockets with Adelman on the Houston bench. After averaging 22.9 points for Adelman in Houston, Martin is scoring 23.1 for Adelman this season. "We knew he was going to score -- that's what he does," Adelman said. "It's a good fit for us having him out there."
