Nick Johnson beat the Timberwolves in OT.
Wait, who?
(photo via @clutchfans) http://t.co/xnzqHtNpHy pic.twitter.com/UuzGTjftuq— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) December 6, 2014
He may not be a household name, but Nick Johnson hit the game-winning shot with eight-tenths of a second remaining in overtime, as the Houston Rockets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-112 at Target Center on Friday night.
Johnson’s bucket accounted for the two biggest of his six points on the night.
The Wolves had a chance to close it out at the end of regulation, but they couldn’t get the key bucket to put the game out of reach.
Then with :15 left in regulation Donatas Motiejunas drew a foul on Gorgui Dieng and made a pair of free throws. Chase Budinger missed a jumper at the horn and the game went into overtime. Wolves coach Flip Saunders said they squandered a lot of opportunities.
Video: #Twolves coach Flip Saunders on opportunities squandered and disparity at stripe in overtime loss to #Rockets. http://t.co/P7LJ8fQc8f
— Andy Greder (@twolvesnow) December 6, 2014
Minnesota trailed heading into the fourth, rallied to put themselves in position to win the game, and then let it slip away.
Shabazz Muhammed led six Wolves in double figures. He finished with 20 points, but didn’t play at the end of regulation nor in the overtime. Thaddeus Young added 19 and Zach LaVine chipped in 17 for the Wolves. Dieng fouled out in overtime with 15 points.
Video: #Twolves rookie Zach LaVine on mixing the good with the bad in Friday's 114-112 overtime loss to #Rockets. http://t.co/yszQp39ID7
— Andy Greder (@twolvesnow) December 6, 2014
The Timberwolves had 12 steals and forced Houston to turn it over 23 times, but the Rockets made up for it with outside shooting. They knocked down 12 three-pointers in the game to Minnesota’s three.
James Harden scored a season-high 38 points, while Jason Terry added 19.
The Wolves (4-14) don’t have a lot of time to dwell on the game. They play in San Antonio on Saturday night.
