Timberwolves stun Thunder, Warriors hold off Rockets in NBA

MINNEAPOLIS – The short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves knew they had to step up.

They did just that as they rallied to halt Oklahoma City’s seven-game winning streak in the National Basketball Association, defeating the Western Conference-leading Thunder 116-101 on Feb 13 on the eve of the All-Star break.

The defeat sends Oklahoma City into the break tied with Eastern Conference leaders Cleveland for the best record in the league at 44-10.

With Rudy Gobert sidelined by back spasms, centre Naz Reid scored 27 points with 14 rebounds, seven assists and a blocked shot to lead the Timberwolves (31-25) in front of their home fans.

Anthony Edwards added 23 points, seven rebounds and seven assists and Jaden McDaniels scored 21 for Minnesota, who bounced back from a narrow loss to the Milwaukee Bucks the night before.

“We were down a couple of guys,” Reid said. “We had big Rudy out today, so everybody had to step up big, and we all did.”

Oklahoma City’s Most Valuable Player candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 points, ending his streak of 25-point games at 22.

He added nine assists and the Thunder had six players score in double figures, but they never recovered after surrendering 37 points in the first quarter.

In another game, Golden State star Stephen Curry scored 27 points to lead the Warriors to a 105-98 victory over the Rockets in Houston.

Curry, who will be making his 10th start in 11 All-Star games when the mid-season festivities are held this weekend at the Warriors’ Chase Centre home in San Francisco, made just seven of his 17 attempts from the field, but that included five of the Warriors’ 11 three-pointers.

All five Golden State starters scored in double figures, with newly acquired Jimmy Butler contributing 19 with eight rebounds.

Aaron Holiday scored 25 points to lead the injury-depleted Rockets, who trailed by 24 late in the third quarter but twice closed within two points in the fourth before the Warriors pulled away again.

“We just wanted to go into the break with a win,” Curry said of a Warriors team coming off a tough loss in Dallas on Feb 12.

“It’s kind of like a mental battle to get ready for this game, quick turnaround, a tough game last night that we felt like we should have won.

“Obviously Houston came back and played amazing, but we played with focus down the stretch and executed on both ends.”

In Dallas, the Mavericks backed up their gritty win over Golden State with a 118-113 victory over the Miami Heat.

Dante Exum scored 27 points and Max Christie added 19 for the Mavs, who won despite seeing Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson join an extensive injury list that already featured Anthony Davis.

Superstar big man Davis suffered an adductor strain in his first game since he arrived in the sensational trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Mavs withstood a 40-point night from Miami’s Tyler Herro to come out on top in a back-and-forth battle that featured 32 lead changes.

In New Orleans, the Pelicans snapped their 10-game skid with a 140-133 overtime victory over the Sacramento Kings.

C.J. McCollum scored 26 of his 43 points in the second half, besides 11 of the Pelicans’ 13 points in the extra session.

Zach LaVine scored 32 points and handed out 10 assists for the Kings, who had 22 points and 28 rebounds from Domantas Sabonis.

The Los Angeles Clippers erased a 20-point deficit to beat the Utah Jazz 120-116 in overtime.

Norman Powell scored nine of his 41 points in overtime and James Harden added 32 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for the Clippers. AFP