The Houston Rockets may have dropped their final game before the All-Star break, but James Harden still extended his 30-point streak in to the record books. Harden put up 42 points at the Target Center, extending his streak to 31 games in a row in a 121-111 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. Harden's streak is tied for the second-longest such streak in NBA history with Wilt Chamberlain. Despite Harden continuing his torrid pace, it was the Timberwolves who got all of the shine on ESPN, and rightfully so after this victory.
Jeff Teague led the T'Wolves with 27 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 25 points, but everyone on the Minnesota bench was focusing in on Josh Okogie. The rookie scored 16 points, but also played tight defense on Harden, and his team felt as if he did it very well. Despite Harden putting up 42 points on the night, Towns said after the game that "it wasn't a good 42, it wasn't a 42 that he's been getting recently, you know. He had to work for it."
And that was due to Okogie's excellent defense, as he did have some key stops, including a big block down the stretch that shut down any type of comeback momentum. He even forced numerous turnovers on Harden. The Timberwolves used that tight defense to pull away late in the third quarter, holding a nine-point lead after a Derrick Rose three-point play. They helped Harden remain as the lone bright spot for the Rockets, as he shot 15-of-34 from the floor, including 8-for-22 from three-point range. The bearded star reached 30 points with his 15th four-point play of the season in the third quarter.
The Rockets will be off until next Thursday, after the All-Star break, when they will visit the struggling Los Angeles Lakers. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves will return the following night by visiting the New York Knicks.
Jeff Teague led the T'Wolves with 27 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 25 points, but everyone on the Minnesota bench was focusing in on Josh Okogie. The rookie scored 16 points, but also played tight defense on Harden, and his team felt as if he did it very well. Despite Harden putting up 42 points on the night, Towns said after the game that "it wasn't a good 42, it wasn't a 42 that he's been getting recently, you know. He had to work for it."
And that was due to Okogie's excellent defense, as he did have some key stops, including a big block down the stretch that shut down any type of comeback momentum. He even forced numerous turnovers on Harden. The Timberwolves used that tight defense to pull away late in the third quarter, holding a nine-point lead after a Derrick Rose three-point play. They helped Harden remain as the lone bright spot for the Rockets, as he shot 15-of-34 from the floor, including 8-for-22 from three-point range. The bearded star reached 30 points with his 15th four-point play of the season in the third quarter.
The Rockets will be off until next Thursday, after the All-Star break, when they will visit the struggling Los Angeles Lakers. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves will return the following night by visiting the New York Knicks.
