Rockets-Timberwolves Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Nov 18 2009 12:43AM

Since a three-game winning streak in the first week of the season, the Houston Rockets have alternated losses and wins.

Following a loss to the Pacific Division leaders, the Rockets will have a good chance to continue that trend Wednesday night at the Target Center.

Houston goes for its ninth straight victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are hoping Al Jefferson's return will help them snap a 10-game overall slide.

Coming off Sunday's 101-91 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, the Rockets (6-5) failed to win consecutive games for the first time since a three-game run Oct. 28-Nov. 2, falling 111-105 to Phoenix on Tuesday. Houston, which led the Suns by as many as 15 points in the second quarter, got outscored 33-23 in the final 12 minutes.

"We are trying to figure out what's good for us, especially down the stretch," Rockets forward Shane Battier said. "That's something we are going to have to go through and look at this game, learn from our mistakes in the fourth quarter and grow.''

Carl Landry came off the bench and scored a career-high 27 points with nine rebounds, while first-year Rocket Trevor Ariza hit three of his five 3-point attempts and had 19 points.

Ariza averaged 9.8 points and 1.8 steals in four games versus the Timberwolves in 2008-09, while playing for the Lakers.

Minnesota (1-10) and rookie point guard Jonny Flynn will also have to find a way to slow down Rockets guard Aaron Brooks, who had 16 points and a career-high 13 assists Tuesday.

"You have to limit his penetration - (Brooks is) so fast and so quick," Timberwolves assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff told the team's official Web site. "He does a great job getting into the paint."

Brooks averaged 20.0 points, 7.5 assists and 7.0 rebounds as Houston won both its visits to the Target Center last season.

While the Rockets go for their fourth straight victory in Minneapolis, the Timberwolves will seek to avoid their longest overall skid since a 13-game losing streak last Nov. 29-Dec. 23, a slide that included a 109-102 home loss to Houston.

Despite shooting 51 percent from the field in the first half, Minnesota dropped its 10th straight on Saturday - 97-87 at Memphis.

"The first half, we came out and we were running sets and playing pretty well,'' guard Corey Brewer said after leading the Timberwolves with 16 points. "In the third quarter, we had a letdown. That's how it's been going all season.''

Brewer, averaging a career-high 12.0 points, missed all four meetings with Houston in 2008-09, due to a torn right ACL.

Jefferson did not play in the final two matchups against the Rockets last season because of the same injury. Jefferson, though, averaged 35.0 points and 17.5 rebounds in the first two games, matching a career high with 22 boards in a 107-90 loss in Houston on Feb. 7.

Jefferson returns to the Timberwolves' lineup Wednesday after missing the previous two contests due to the death of his grandmother.

"The better Al is, the better we play as a team," Bickerstaff said. "He's our anchor. He's our go-to guy. We just have to do what we've done in spurts for four quarters."

Minnesota's last win in this series was a 103-99 overtime victory at home Jan. 7, 2007.

Copyright 2009 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Rockets pick up road win behind tireless Scola

By Phil Miller, for NBA.com
Posted Wednesday November 18, 2009 11:46PM

MINNEAPOLIS (NBA.com exclusive) -- A tired Luis Scola is a dangerous Luis Scola.

When fatigue hits, the Rockets' big man hits back.

"Luis gives us so much energy," Houston coach Rick Adelman admired Wednesday after Scola led the Rockets to a 97-84 victory over the Timberwolves. "He just keeps working."

In fact, Adelman might want to add to the Argentinean forward's workload. Make him stay up all night before games, or walk to the arena. Anything to make his limbs heavy -- and his game sharp.

"When I'm tired, I try to play with extra energy, just to compensate," Scola said after his 20-point, 16-rebound outing. "Today, I was like, 'We need this game.' "

He delivered, helping Houston beat Minnesota for the ninth straight meeting, by continuing an amazing early-season pattern: When the schedule becomes crowded, Scola becomes formidable.

The Rockets, who lost an energy-sapping home game to Phoenix on Tuesday before flying to Minnesota, are now 3-0 in the second half of back-to-back games (and oddly, 0-3 in the first game), and Scola is the reason why. Those three games, in which most players' games slowly succumb to weariness, have been Scola's best. He's averaging 21.0 points and 14.0 rebounds in those games, shooting 57.7 percent from the field.

"It could be seven straight games, and he's not going to change who he is," Adelman said. "He just keeps playing. He must have gotten four or five baskets (Wednesday) just because of the offensive boards -- he just stays on it."

He's not bad with full rest, either, but the difference is noticeable. Scola is shooting 47.9 percent when the Rockets are rested, scoring 12.2 points with 8.3 rebounds.

That might not have been enough against Minnesota, a team that, despite a losing streak that now stretches 11 games, had not played since Saturday. The Wolves, with Al Jefferson back in the lineup after missing two games when his grandmother died, built a five-point lead midway through the second quarter.

"We were really sluggish in the first half," Adelman complained. "We had 14 turnovers at halftime, and that's about what we average for an entire game."

Jefferson was anything but sluggish, hitting a series of 15-footers en route to a 20-point, 10-rebound night. Once he established he could make the mid-range shots, he went inside for more, making his first eight shots of the game.

And when the Wolves' star sat down for a third-quarter rest, Ramon Sessions (who finished with 16 points) and Oleksiy Pecherov (12 points) led a 9-0 run that pulled Minnesota within a point, 68-67, entering the fourth quarter.

"It was such a dangerous game," said Rockets forward Shane Battier. "They want to win. You can't look at the records and assume you're going to win."

Not until SuperScola showed up, anyway. Adelman inserted his never-too-tired secret weapon into the game to open the fourth quarter, and "we really picked it up from there," Adelman said. "Luis came back in, and we seemed to take control at that point."

Houston, now 7-5 (and 5-0 following a loss), outscored Minnesota 29-17 in the fourth quarter and improved to 4-3 on the road. Trevor Ariza added 18 points for the Rockets, who outrebounded the Wolves, 57-42.

"These are the type of games that are going to put us in the playoffs" Scola said. "It's the most important game of the week, so I was talking to myself about it, trying to fire myself up a little bit.

"If we are able to (beat) all these bottom-of-standings teams on a regular basis, we're going to have good record. And if once in a while, we beat the good teams, especially at home, we're going to be in the playoffs."

• Rockets: Dorsey, McGrady, Yao
• Timberwolves: Blount, Hart, Love

• Rockets: Brooks
• Timberwolves: Wilkins

• Lead Changes: 5
• Times Tied: 7

• Arena: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
• Officials: #15 Bennett Salvatore, #67 John Goble, #28 Tommy Nunez Jr.
• Attendance: 11137
• Duration: 2:5

Houston Rockets (21-14)		Minnesota Timberwolves (7-29)
Start of 1st Quarter
(12:00) Jump Ball Hollins vs Scola (Jefferson gains possession)
	11:46 [MIN 2-0]	Jefferson Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Ariza Driving Bank shot: Made (2 PTS)	11:32 [HOU 2-2]
	11:23	Brewer Turnover : Out of Bounds Lost Ball Turnover (1 TO)
Ariza Jump Shot: Missed	11:08
Scola Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	11:07
Scola Layup Shot: Missed Block: Jefferson (1 BLK)	11:05
Scola Rebound (Off:2 Def:0)	11:04
Brooks 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Scola (1 AST)	11:00 [HOU 5-2]
	10:45 [MIN 4-5]	Gomes Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Jefferson (1 AST)
Brooks Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Gomes (1 ST)	10:26
	10:21	Flynn Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Ariza (1 ST)
Scola Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Brooks (1 AST)	10:15 [HOU 7-4]
	10:01 [MIN 6-7]	Hollins Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Scola Jump Shot: Missed	09:46
Hayes Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	09:45
Hayes Hook Shot: Made (2 PTS)	09:43 [HOU 9-6]
	09:24	Gomes Jump Shot: Missed
Scola Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)	09:22
Brooks Turnover : Step Out of Bounds Turnover (2 TO)	09:18
	08:58	Flynn Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Hayes (1 ST)
Ariza 3pt Shot: Missed	08:50
	08:49	Gomes Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
Brooks Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	08:41
	08:41 [MIN 7-9]	Jefferson Free Throw 1 of 2 (3 PTS)
	08:41 [MIN 8-9]	Jefferson Free Throw 2 of 2 (4 PTS)
Hayes Jump Shot: Missed Block: Jefferson (2 BLK)	08:25
	08:23	Team Rebound
	08:06	Brewer 3pt Shot: Missed
Scola Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)	08:05
Brooks 3pt Shot: Missed	07:59
	07:59	Jefferson Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	07:48	Gomes 3pt Shot: Missed
Hayes Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	07:47
Jump Ball Brewer vs Scola (Gomes gains possession)	07:37
Scola Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Brewer (1 ST)	07:37
	07:23	Flynn 3pt Shot: Missed
Hayes Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	07:22
Scola Jump Shot: Missed	07:14
	07:13	Jefferson Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	06:54	Gomes Jump Shot: Missed
Scola Rebound (Off:2 Def:3)	06:53
Brooks Turnover : Bad Pass (3 TO) Steal:Hollins (1 ST)	06:48
	06:46	Jump Ball Hollins vs Hayes (Battier gains possession)
	06:46	Hollins Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Hayes (2 ST)
Battier Driving Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)	06:31 [HOU 11-8]
	06:10 [MIN 10-11]	Flynn Driving Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Ariza 3pt Shot: Missed	05:59
Team Rebound	05:58
	05:58	Team Timeout : Regular
Brooks Jump Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Scola (2 AST)	05:44 [HOU 13-10]
	05:30	Brewer Turnover : Out of Bounds Lost Ball Turnover (2 TO)
Scola Jump Shot: Missed	05:17
	05:16	Brewer Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	05:08	Hollins Turnover : Traveling (2 TO)
Scola Jump Shot: Missed	04:54
	04:53	Jefferson Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)
	04:41 [MIN 12-13]	Jefferson Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS)
Battier 3pt Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Hayes (1 AST)	04:23 [HOU 16-12]
	04:07 [MIN 14-16]	Jefferson Pullup Jump shot: Made (8 PTS)
	03:56	Jefferson Foul : Personal (1 PF)
	03:56	Hollins Substitution replaced by Pecherov
	03:56	Gomes Substitution replaced by Pavlovic
	03:45	Pecherov Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Hayes Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	03:45
Team Rebound	03:45
Hayes Free Throw 2 of 2 (3 PTS)	03:45 [HOU 17-14]
	03:22 [MIN 16-17]	Pecherov Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)
	03:18	Brewer Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Ariza Free Throw 1 of 2 (3 PTS)	03:18 [HOU 18-16]
Ariza Free Throw 2 of 2 (4 PTS)	03:18 [HOU 19-16]
	03:06 [MIN 18-19]	Flynn Floating Jump shot: Made (4 PTS)
Brooks Turnover : Bad Pass (4 TO) Steal:Brewer (2 ST)	02:59
	02:55	Flynn Layup Shot: Missed
	02:53	Pecherov Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	02:52	Pecherov Layup Shot: Missed
Team Rebound	02:51
	02:51	Pecherov Foul : Loose Ball (2 PF)
Team Timeout : Regular	02:51
	02:51	Flynn Substitution replaced by Sessions
	02:51	Jefferson Substitution replaced by Jawai
Brooks Substitution replaced by Lowry	02:51
Battier Substitution replaced by Landry	02:51
Scola Substitution replaced by Budinger	02:51
Ariza Jump Shot: Missed	02:37
	02:36	Jawai Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	02:20	Pavlovic Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Hayes (3 ST)
Budinger Jump Shot: Missed	02:13
	02:12	Pavlovic Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	02:07	Brewer Foul : Offensive (2 PF)
	02:07	Brewer Turnover : Foul (3 TO)
Hayes Substitution replaced by Andersen	02:07
	02:07	Brewer Substitution replaced by Wilkins
Andersen Hook Shot: Made (2 PTS)	01:42 [HOU 21-18]
	01:29	Pavlovic Jump Shot: Missed
	01:28	Wilkins Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	01:21 [MIN 21-21]	Pecherov 3pt Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Pavlovic (1 AST)
Ariza 3pt Shot: Missed	01:14
Andersen Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	01:13
Lowry 3pt Shot: Missed	01:00
	01:00	Team Rebound
	00:46.8	Pavlovic Jump Shot: Missed
Andersen Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	00:45.5
Budinger 3pt Shot: Missed	00:39.8
	00:37.9	Wilkins Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	00:30.9	Sessions Jump Shot: Missed
Andersen Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	00:29.7
Lowry Running Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS)	00:09.2 [HOU 23-21]
	00:01.8	Wilkins Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Budinger (1 ST)
End of 1st Quarter
Houston Rockets (21-14)		Minnesota Timberwolves (7-29)
Start of 2nd QuarterBack to Top
Landry Jump Shot: Missed	11:44
	11:43	Pavlovic Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
Landry Foul : Personal (1 PF)	11:34
	11:27 [MIN 23-23]	Sessions Driving Dunk Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Landry Turnover : Traveling (1 TO)	11:15
	11:06	Pecherov Jump Shot: Missed
	11:03	Sessions Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)
	10:49	Pecherov Running Hook Shot: Missed
Andersen Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	10:48
Budinger Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Jawai (1 ST)	10:33
	10:27 [MIN 26-23]	Pavlovic 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Sessions (1 AST)
Lowry Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO)	10:21
	10:03	Pecherov Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed
Battier Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	10:02
Budinger Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Sessions (1 ST)	09:46
	09:42 [MIN 28-23]	Sessions Driving Dunk Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Battier 3pt Shot: Missed	09:21
	09:20	Jawai Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	09:06	Pavlovic 3pt Shot: Missed
	09:05	Wilkins Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)
	08:55	Sessions Jump Shot: Missed
Lowry Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	08:54
Andersen 3pt Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Budinger (1 AST)	08:38 [HOU 26-28]
	08:12	Jawai Turnover : Traveling (1 TO)
Timeout : Regular	08:12
	08:12	Jawai Substitution replaced by Jefferson
Landry Turnover : Traveling (2 TO)	08:04
	07:55 [MIN 30-26]	Jefferson Jump Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Sessions (2 AST)
Lowry 3pt Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Andersen (1 AST)	07:42 [HOU 29-30]
	07:30	Pecherov 3pt Shot: Missed
	07:28	Jefferson Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	07:20 [MIN 32-29]	Jefferson Jump Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Wilkins (1 AST)
Lowry Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Sessions (2 ST)	07:10
	07:05	Sessions Layup Shot: Missed
	07:04	Wilkins Rebound (Off:3 Def:1)
	07:04 [MIN 34-29]	Wilkins Putback Slam Dunk Shot: Made (2 PTS)
	07:04	Wilkins Hanging Technical
Battier Free Throw Technical (6 PTS)	07:04 [HOU 30-34]
Budinger Substitution replaced by Ariza	07:04
	07:04	Pecherov Substitution replaced by Hollins
Landry Substitution replaced by Hayes	07:04
Andersen Substitution replaced by Scola	07:04
Hayes Jump Shot: Missed	06:42
Hayes Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)	06:40
Hayes Tip Shot: Missed	06:40
Scola Rebound (Off:3 Def:3)	06:38
Ariza 3pt Shot: Missed	06:28
	06:27	Hollins Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	06:16	Sessions Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Battier (1 ST)
Ariza Turnover : Traveling (1 TO)	06:13
Lowry Substitution replaced by Brooks	06:13
Hayes Foul : Personal (1 PF)	05:58
	05:58	Team Timeout : Regular
	05:58	Sessions Substitution replaced by Flynn
	05:45	Hollins Jump Shot: Missed
Ariza Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	05:44
Scola Hook Shot: Made (4 PTS)	05:24 [HOU 32-34]
	04:58	Pavlovic 3pt Shot: Missed
Brooks Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)	04:57
Hayes Layup Shot: Missed	04:42
Scola Rebound (Off:4 Def:3)	04:41
Scola Putback Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS)	04:40 [HOU 34-34]
	04:29	Pavlovic Driving Layup Shot: Missed
Scola Rebound (Off:4 Def:4)	04:28
Ariza 3pt Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Battier (1 AST)	04:22 [HOU 37-34]
	04:12	Team Timeout : Short
	04:12	Pavlovic Substitution replaced by Brewer
	04:12	Wilkins Substitution replaced by Gomes
	04:01	Gomes Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO)
	03:53	Gomes Foul : Personal (1 PF)
Scola Layup Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Ariza (1 AST)	03:48 [HOU 39-34]
	03:37	Flynn Jump Shot: Missed
Ariza Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	03:35
Ariza Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Jefferson (1 ST)	03:29
	03:15	Gomes Foul : Offensive (2 PF)
	03:15	Gomes Turnover : Foul (2 TO)
	03:15	Gomes Substitution replaced by Wilkins
Scola Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO)	03:05
	02:49 [MIN 36-39]	Jefferson Jump Shot: Made (14 PTS) Assist: Flynn (1 AST)
Team Timeout : Regular	02:39
Brooks Driving Layup Shot: Missed	02:35
Scola Rebound (Off:5 Def:4)	02:34
Scola Putback Layup Shot: Made (10 PTS)	02:33 [HOU 41-36]
	02:26	Battier Violation:Kicked Ball
	02:20	Flynn Layup Shot: Missed Block: Scola (1 BLK)
Scola Rebound (Off:5 Def:5)	02:19
Scola Layup Shot: Missed Block: Hollins (1 BLK)	02:10
Team Rebound	02:10
Brooks Jump Shot: Missed	02:06
	02:06	Team Rebound
	01:55	Brewer Foul : Offensive (3 PF)
	01:55	Brewer Turnover : Foul (4 TO)
	01:55	Flynn Substitution replaced by Sessions
	01:55	Brewer Substitution replaced by Pavlovic
Ariza 3pt Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Scola (3 AST)	01:36 [HOU 44-36]
	01:13	Pavlovic 3pt Shot: Missed
	01:11	Jefferson Rebound (Off:2 Def:3)
	01:07 [MIN 38-44]	Sessions Driving Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Jefferson (2 AST)
Hayes Layup Shot: Made (5 PTS)	00:49.4 [HOU 46-38]
	00:39.9	Sessions Jump Shot: Missed
	00:39.0	Hollins Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
Hayes Foul : Personal (2 PF)	00:39.0
	00:32.1 [MIN 40-46]	Jefferson Jump Shot: Made (16 PTS)
Brooks Pullup Jump shot: Made (7 PTS)	00:12.0 [HOU 48-40]
	00:01.1 [MIN 42-48]	Pavlovic Driving Layup Shot: Made (5 PTS)
Ariza Jump Shot: Missed	00:00.6
Team Rebound	00:00.0
End of 2nd Quarter
Houston Rockets (21-14)		Minnesota Timberwolves (7-29)
Start of 3rd QuarterBack to Top
Scola Jump Shot: Missed	11:46
Hayes Rebound (Off:3 Def:2)	11:45
Scola Jump Shot: Missed	11:37
	11:36	Jefferson Rebound (Off:2 Def:4)
Scola Foul : Personal (1 PF)	11:36
	11:21 [MIN 44-48]	Jefferson Layup Shot: Made (18 PTS) Assist: Brewer (1 AST)
	11:04	Hollins Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Hayes Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	11:04
Team Rebound	11:04
Hayes Free Throw 2 of 2 (6 PTS)	11:04 [HOU 49-44]
	10:49	Jefferson Turnover : Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal:Brooks (1 ST)
Brooks Turnover : Bad Pass (5 TO) Steal:Jefferson (2 ST)	10:43
	10:39	Brewer Layup Shot: Missed
	10:38	Hollins Rebound (Off:2 Def:1)
Battier Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	10:38
	10:38	Hollins Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	10:38	Team Rebound
	10:38 [MIN 45-49]	Hollins Free Throw 2 of 2 (3 PTS)
Brooks Jump Shot: Missed	10:23
	10:22	Hollins Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)
	10:10	Gomes Jump Shot: Missed
Scola Rebound (Off:5 Def:6)	10:09
Scola Running Hook Shot: Made (12 PTS)	09:52 [HOU 51-45]
	09:32	Flynn Jump Shot: Missed
Battier Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	09:29
Ariza 3pt Shot: Missed	09:12
	09:11	Jefferson Rebound (Off:2 Def:5)
	09:04 [MIN 47-51]	Flynn Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS)
Hayes Foul : Shooting (3 PF)	09:04
	09:04 [MIN 48-51]	Flynn Free Throw 1 of 1 (7 PTS)
Brooks 3pt Shot: Made (10 PTS) Assist: Battier (2 AST)	08:50 [HOU 54-48]
Brooks Foul : Personal (2 PF)	08:42
	08:31	Flynn Reverse Layup Shot: Missed
Hayes Rebound (Off:3 Def:3)	08:30
Ariza 3pt Shot: Made (13 PTS) Assist: Brooks (2 AST)	08:21 [HOU 57-48]
	08:01 [MIN 50-57]	Gomes Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Flynn (2 AST)
Brooks 3pt Shot: Made (13 PTS)	07:50 [HOU 60-50]
	07:39 [MIN 52-60]	Brewer Jump Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Jefferson (3 AST)
Brooks Turnover : Bad Pass (6 TO)	07:29
	07:29	Gomes Substitution replaced by Wilkins
	07:29	Hollins Substitution replaced by Cardinal
	07:22 [MIN 54-60]	Brewer Jump Shot: Made (4 PTS)
Ariza 3pt Shot: Missed	06:54
	06:53	Cardinal Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	06:47	Flynn Turnover : Lost Ball (3 TO) Steal:Brooks (2 ST)
	06:45	Cardinal Foul : Personal (1 PF)
	06:45	Flynn Substitution replaced by Sessions
	06:41	Cardinal Foul : Personal (2 PF)
Ariza 3pt Shot: Missed	06:24
Team Rebound	06:22
Team Turnover : Shot Clock Turnover	06:22
	06:10	Cardinal Jump Shot: Missed
Ariza Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	06:09
	05:55	Team Timeout : Regular
Jump Ball Jefferson vs Hayes (Battier gains possession)	05:55
Ariza 3pt Shot: Made (16 PTS) Assist: Brooks (3 AST)	05:44 [HOU 63-54]
	05:31 [MIN 56-63]	Sessions Pullup Jump shot: Made (8 PTS)
Scola Jump Shot: Missed	05:12
	05:11	Jefferson Rebound (Off:2 Def:6)
	04:52	Brewer 3pt Shot: Missed
	04:51	Wilkins Rebound (Off:4 Def:1)
	04:50	Team Turnover : Shot Clock Turnover
Ariza Turnover : Lost Ball (3 TO) Steal:Sessions (3 ST)	04:43
	04:39 [MIN 58-63]	Brewer Slam Dunk Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Wilkins (2 AST)
Hayes Driving Layup Shot: Made (8 PTS)	04:20 [HOU 65-58]
	04:20	Cardinal Foul : Shooting (3 PF)
	04:20	Brewer Substitution replaced by Pavlovic
Hayes Free Throw 1 of 1 (9 PTS)	04:20 [HOU 66-58]
	04:04	Jefferson Turnover : Lost Ball (2 TO) Steal:Battier (2 ST)
Team Timeout : Regular	04:01
	04:01	Jefferson Substitution replaced by Jawai
	04:01	Cardinal Substitution replaced by Pecherov
Brooks 3pt Shot: Missed	03:41
Hayes Rebound (Off:4 Def:3)	03:40
Brooks Turnover : Bad Pass (7 TO) Steal:Pavlovic (1 ST)	03:27
Ariza Foul : Shooting (1 PF)	03:23
	03:23 [MIN 59-66]	Sessions Free Throw 1 of 2 (9 PTS)
	03:23 [MIN 60-66]	Sessions Free Throw 2 of 2 (10 PTS)
Brooks Driving Layup Shot: Missed Block: Pecherov (1 BLK)	03:03
Team Rebound	03:03
Hayes Substitution replaced by Landry	03:03
Scola Jump Shot: Missed	03:00
Scola Rebound (Off:6 Def:6)	02:58
Landry Layup Shot: Missed Block: Pecherov (2 BLK)	02:45
	02:44	Wilkins Rebound (Off:4 Def:2)
	02:32 [MIN 62-66]	Pecherov Layup Shot: Made (7 PTS)
Battier Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Wilkins (1 ST)	02:11
	02:07 [MIN 64-66]	Sessions Layup Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Wilkins (3 AST)
Landry Jump Shot: Missed	01:38
	01:37	Pecherov Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)
	01:21 [MIN 66-66]	Pecherov Jump Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Sessions (3 AST)
Brooks Turnover : Out of Bounds Lost Ball Turnover (8 TO)	01:04
Brooks Technical	01:04
	01:04 [MIN 67-66]	Wilkins Free Throw Technical (3 PTS)
Brooks Substitution replaced by Lowry	01:04
Battier Substitution replaced by Budinger	01:04
	00:54.8	Team Timeout : Short
	00:48.9	Pecherov 3pt Shot: Missed
Ariza Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)	00:47.5
Lowry Running Jump Shot: Made (7 PTS)	00:39.9 [HOU 68-67]
	00:27.9	Pavlovic Jump Shot: Missed
Scola Rebound (Off:6 Def:7)	00:25.9
Budinger Jump Shot: Missed	00:18.9
	00:17.6	Wilkins Rebound (Off:4 Def:3)
	00:04.9	Sessions Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Scola (1 ST)
Ariza Layup Shot: Missed	00:01.0
Team Rebound	00:00.0
End of 3rd Quarter
Houston Rockets (21-14)		Minnesota Timberwolves (7-29)
Start of 4th QuarterBack to Top
	11:46	Pecherov Jump Shot: Missed
Team Rebound	11:44
Budinger 3pt Shot: Missed	11:26
	11:25	Pecherov Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
	11:09	Pavlovic Layup Shot: Missed
Andersen Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)	11:07
	10:51	Jawai Foul : Shooting (1 PF)
Landry Free Throw 1 of 2 (1 PTS)	10:51 [HOU 69-67]
Landry Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed	10:51
	10:51	Pecherov Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	10:36 [MIN 69-69]	Jawai Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS)
Andersen 3pt Shot: Made (8 PTS) Assist: Lowry (1 AST)	10:24 [HOU 72-69]
	10:11 [MIN 72-72]	Pecherov 3pt Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: Sessions (4 AST)
Battier 3pt Shot: Made (9 PTS) Assist: Lowry (2 AST)	09:59 [HOU 75-72]
	09:49 [MIN 74-75]	Sessions Jump Shot: Made (14 PTS)
Budinger Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Lowry (3 AST)	09:41 [HOU 77-74]
	09:23	Pavlovic Jump Shot: Missed
Battier Rebound (Off:0 Def:3)	09:22
Landry Slam Dunk Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Battier (3 AST)	09:14 [HOU 79-74]
	09:14	Team Timeout : Regular
	09:14	Pavlovic Substitution replaced by Brewer
	09:14	Jawai Substitution replaced by Jefferson
	08:53	Jefferson Jump Shot: Missed
	08:52	Team Rebound
Battier Foul : Personal (2 PF)	08:52
	08:46 [MIN 76-79]	Sessions Jump Shot: Made (16 PTS) Assist: Pecherov (1 AST)
Landry Layup Shot: Missed	08:25
Team Rebound	08:24
	08:24	Team Timeout : Regular
	08:24	Jefferson Substitution replaced by Jawai
Landry Jump Shot: Made (5 PTS) Assist: Battier (4 AST)	08:10 [HOU 81-76]
	07:47	Pecherov Jump Shot: Missed
	07:46	Wilkins Rebound (Off:5 Def:3)
	07:29	Wilkins 3pt Shot: Missed
Lowry Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	07:27
Battier 3pt Shot: Missed	07:20
Budinger Rebound (Off:1 Def:0)	07:17
Budinger Layup Shot: Missed	07:16
Budinger Rebound (Off:2 Def:0)	07:15
Budinger Jump Shot: Missed	07:14
Lowry Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	07:13
Andersen Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed	06:57
	06:56	Wilkins Rebound (Off:5 Def:4)
	06:40	Brewer Jump Shot: Missed
	06:40	Team Rebound
Budinger Foul : Loose Ball (1 PF)	06:40
	06:40	Jawai Substitution replaced by Jefferson
	06:40	Pecherov Substitution replaced by Hollins
Landry Substitution replaced by Hayes	06:40
Andersen Substitution replaced by Scola	06:40
Battier Substitution replaced by Ariza	06:40
	06:40	Sessions Substitution replaced by Flynn
	06:26	Jefferson Jump Shot: Missed
Scola Rebound (Off:6 Def:8)	06:25
Lowry Jump Shot: Made (9 PTS)	06:10 [HOU 83-76]
	05:55	Flynn 3pt Shot: Missed
Hayes Rebound (Off:4 Def:4)	05:54
Hayes Layup Shot: Made (11 PTS) Assist: Ariza (2 AST)	05:33 [HOU 85-76]
	05:06 [MIN 78-85]	Flynn Driving Layup Shot: Made (9 PTS)
Hayes Jump Shot: Missed	04:42
Hayes Rebound (Off:5 Def:4)	04:40
Hayes Layup Shot: Missed Block: Hollins (2 BLK)	04:36
Scola Rebound (Off:7 Def:8)	04:35
Scola Tip Shot: Made (14 PTS)	04:35 [HOU 87-78]
Hayes Foul : Shooting (4 PF)	04:22
	04:22	Wilkins Substitution replaced by Gomes
	04:22 [MIN 79-87]	Hollins Free Throw 1 of 2 (4 PTS)
	04:22	Hollins Free Throw 2 of 2 Missed
Scola Rebound (Off:7 Def:9)	04:22
Ariza Running Bank shot: Made (18 PTS)	04:03 [HOU 89-79]
	03:51	Flynn Layup Shot: Missed
Hayes Rebound (Off:5 Def:5)	03:50
	03:39	Hollins Foul : Personal (2 PF)
Team Timeout : Regular	03:39
Budinger Substitution replaced by Battier	03:39
	03:39	Hollins Substitution replaced by Pecherov
Ariza 3pt Shot: Missed	03:27
	03:26	Flynn Rebound (Off:0 Def:1)
	03:10	Brewer Foul : Offensive (4 PF)
	03:10	Brewer Turnover : Foul (5 TO)
Lowry Jump Shot: Made (11 PTS)	02:48 [HOU 91-79]
	02:36 [MIN 82-91]	Gomes 3pt Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: Jefferson (4 AST)
Ariza 3pt Shot: Missed	02:17
Battier Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)	02:15
Scola Jump Shot: Missed	01:53
Lowry Rebound (Off:2 Def:2)	01:52
Lowry Jump Shot: Missed	01:36
	01:35	Jefferson Rebound (Off:2 Def:7)
	01:21	Pecherov Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Ariza (2 ST)
Scola Driving Layup Shot: Made (16 PTS) Assist: Ariza (3 AST)	01:16 [HOU 93-82]
	01:16	Team Timeout : Regular
	01:16	Flynn Substitution replaced by Sessions
	01:05 [MIN 84-93]	Jefferson Jump Shot: Made (20 PTS) Assist: Sessions (5 AST)
Scola Layup Shot: Made (18 PTS) Assist: Lowry (4 AST)	00:46.6 [HOU 95-84]
	00:45.9	Pecherov Turnover : Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal:Hayes (4 ST)
Scola Layup Shot: Made (20 PTS) Assist: Battier (5 AST)	00:25.9 [HOU 97-84]
	00:18.9	Pecherov Layup Shot: Missed
	00:16.9	Jefferson Rebound (Off:3 Def:7)
	00:15.9	Jefferson Turnover : Lost Ball (3 TO) Steal:Lowry (1 ST)
Jump Ball Jefferson vs Ariza (Pecherov gains possession)	00:03.5
Ariza Turnover : Lost Ball (4 TO) Steal:Jefferson (3 ST)	00:03.5
End of 4th Quarter

broadcast information
country		channel			time
usa		--	FSH	Local	8:00 pm ET
		--	FSNN-MIN	Local	8:00 pm ET