The Minnesota Timberwolves just showed the entire Western Conference that they aren’t messing around, even without their superstar. They rolled over the Houston Rockets 117-107 last night, handing the Rockets only their second loss of the entire season.
Ball Finds His Rhythm When It Counts
Dude, seriously, the Wolves are without Anthony Edwards, their MVP-caliber guy, and he’s out until at least December recovering from knee surgery. That’s a massive hole to fill, right? But LaMelo Ball stepped up huge, shaking off some early miscues that had everyone a bit nervous. He poured in 20 points, snatched 2 rebounds, dished out 6 assists, and added 3 steals and a block. He really turned it on in the fourth quarter when the team needed him most. And he wasn’t alone carrying the load either. Ayo Dosunmu was a beast with 21 points, 1 rebound, 6 assists, and 2 steals, while Bones Hyland chipped in 19 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal. These guys are getting it done despite having a huge piece missing. The win pushes the Wolves to a solid 6-3 record.
Even KD Couldn’t Save the West’s Best Record
The Rockets came into this game with the best record in the West at 7-1, so this loss stings a bit, even if it’s only their second. Kevin Durant had a decent outing with 21 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block. But honestly, by his insane standards, he’s had a bit of a slow start to the season. The big man Alperen Sengun absolutely showed out, dropping a triple-double with 17 points, a massive 12 rebounds, and 10 assists, plus 3 blocks. Even Fred VanVleet added 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. So it wasn’t like the Rockets just rolled over; they had guys performing. But the Wolves just wanted it more, especially with Ball getting fired up late. Dropping to 7-2 still keeps Houston at the top of the Western Conference standings, but this loss is a reminder that nobody is invincible.
This game is a big statement for the Timberwolves, proving they can still compete at a high level while Edwards recovers. For the Rockets, it’s a gut check. They still own that best record in the West, but they just got beat by a team missing its best player. The rest of the conference is watching how they bounce back from this, and whether they can maintain that top spot against teams that are clearly hungry.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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