Ant-Bitten: Rockets Suffer Late Meltdown in 113-112 Collapse to Timberwolves
Empty Tank. Late Sting. Bitter Taste.
Fans started filing for the exits at Toyota Center with a little over five minutes remaining, as Houston held a sixteen-point lead over Minnesota. Those onlookers who left early missed an utter collapse by the home team. At least those onlookers who thought the Rockets had safely secured another win in Houston didn’t have to witness heartbreak in person. In a stunning display, Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves rallied to shock the Rockets, 113-112, on Friday night. The heartbreaking loss snaps Houston’s four-game winning streak, and also marks a defeat to start this tough five-game homestand. Alperen Sengun had one of his best games of the season, scoring 38 points and grabbing 12 boards, but it wasn’t enough. Amen Thompson was solid in a starting role once again, scoring 20 points to go along with 11 rebounds. Fred VanVleet added 18 points, but missed some crucial shots late in clutch time as the Rockets suffered arguably their most heartbreaking loss of the season.
Anthony Edwards hit a fadeaway go-ahead shot from beyond the arc to put Minnesota up for good, 113-112, over Houston. Edwards finished with 24 points. Julius Randle led the Wolves in scoring with 27 points, and fellow former New York Knick newcomer Donte DiVincenzo added 22 points off the bench for Minnesota. This feels like the first time the Rockets have beaten themselves all season. The first time they’ve really shot themselves in the foot. Houston has been tremendous all season at not beating themselves. But their collapse in the final five minutes was a combination of a mental letdown and a spirited rally by the Wolves. Regardless, the Rockets should have won this game. They’ll have to try and wipe this result from their memory, and regroup.
Up next, Houston hosts the Miami Heat for the second-leg of this tough five-game homestand. Miami will provide the Rockets with another tough challenge, as they always play hard no matter who’s playing on the court for their squad. Houston sorely missed Dillon Brooks and Tari Eason in their collapse to the Wolves. The Rockets scored only 10 points off the bench in the loss. Hopefully, Brooks and Eason can return soon as the schedule only gets tougher for Houston. According to opposing teams’ strength of schedule, the Rockets have the second-toughest schedule remaining behind only the Memphis Grizzlies. The squad needs to wash this bitter taste out of their mouth and prepare to bounce back against a tough Miami Heat team on Sunday night.
– Shoutout to Jonathan Feigen… One of the GOATs to ever cover the Rockets