Kevin Durant Erupts as Houston Rockets Stave Off Minnesota Rally 110-105

Short memories are a requirement in the NBA. If you dwell on the misses, you’ll never make the next shot.

Kevin Durant and the Rockets proved that axiom true on Friday night. Just 24 hours after a forgettable 0-for-5 performance from deep against the Thunder, Durant looked like a completely different player inside the Toyota Center. The veteran superstar poured in 39 points, knocking down a season-best six 3-pointers to drag the Houston Rockets to a gritty 110-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

It wasn’t pretty, and it certainly wasn’t easy, but for a Houston team looking to wash the taste of a blowout loss out of their mouths, it was necessary.

“Every game matters for us,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said before the game, emphasizing the need for focus regardless of the opponent’s lineup. His team responded, albeit with some heart-stopping moments down the stretch.

Durant and Sengun Anchor the Rockets’ Offense

While Durant provided the perimeter fireworks, Alperen Sengun continued to be the engine in the paint. Sengun was a force of nature before fouling out late in the fourth, tallying a massive double-double with 25 points and 14 rebounds. His physicality gave the Rockets an edge they sorely lacked the night prior.

The game appeared to be well in hand midway through the fourth quarter. Houston remained comfortably ahead by five, and a thunderous dunk by Sengun with 3:30 left on the clock extended the lead to 103-96. The crowd exhaled. It felt over.

But in the NBA, a seven-point lead is nothing.

Wolves Bite Back in Crunch Time

The Timberwolves, despite missing their explosive leader Anthony Edwards for a second straight game due to a foot issue, refused to roll over. Julius Randle put the team on his back, delivering a season-high 39-point masterclass that kept Minnesota within striking distance all night.

Suddenly, the comfortable lead evaporated. A quick 6-2 burst by Minnesota, fueled by four clutch points from Randle, slashed the deficit to 105-102 with just 90 seconds remaining. The tension in the arena was palpable. When Sengun picked up his sixth foul moments later, forcing him to the bench, the momentum seemed to swing entirely toward the visitors.

Jaden McDaniels hit one of two free throws to pull Minnesota within a single bucket. A turnover by Randle gave Houston a gasp of air, but the game ultimately came down to the free-throw line—a place where both teams had struggled mightily all evening.

With under a minute to play, Durant stepped to the stripe. Cool, calm, and collected, he sank two free throws. After another Minnesota empty possession, he hit two more with 22.1 seconds left, finally icing the game and sealing the win for the Rockets.

Ugly Shooting from the Stripe

If there is a takeaway for the coaches to agonize over during film sessions tomorrow, it will be the free-throw shooting. It was a spectacle of missed opportunities on both ends of the floor.

The Rockets shot a dismal 20 of 34 from the line. Minnesota was hardly better, going 20 for 35. The biggest culprit was Timberwolves big man Rudy Gobert, who had a nightmarish outing from the charity stripe, clanking 8 of his 10 attempts. At one point in the fourth, after the Rockets gave up a basket to Bones Hyland, Gobert missed three of four free throws in quick succession—points that would have been invaluable in a five-point loss.

Bench Sparks and Historical Streaks

While the stars shined, the Timberwolves got solid production from their reserves. Naz Reid was electric off the bench, adding 25 points and 9 rebounds. His efforts helped Minnesota keep a remarkable offensive streak alive. By scoring 105 points, the Timberwolves secured their 100th consecutive game scoring at least 100 points, the third-longest such streak in NBA history.

However, moral victories and historical footnotes don’t show up in the win column. For the Rockets, this was about resilience. They survived a barrage from Randle, overcame their own shooting woes at the line, and leaned on their superstar when the lights got bright.

Houston (24-15) now looks to build a new streak as they prepare to host New Orleans on Sunday night. Minnesota (27-15) will look to bounce back as they visit San Antonio on Saturday.