ISTANBUL
The Minnesota Timberwolves ended the Oklahoma City Thunder’s impressive seven-game winning streak with a solid 115-101 victory on Friday.
Naz Reid made a double-double with 27 points and 14 rebounds, while Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 23 points at the Target Center.
“I think it’s good for the players to feel a little bit of pressure, I really do,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said after the game.
“Fifty-five games into the season, we’ve got to start becoming who we really can be … I think it’s important to realize that all these games are really going to matter when we add them all up at the end of the season,” he added.
Jaden McDaniels finished with 21 points for the Timberwolves.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 points for the losing side and Jalen Williams scored 20.
Houston Rockets suffers defeat
The Houston Rockets fell to the Golden State Warriors with a 105-98 defeat at the Toyota Center.
Turkish star Alperen Sengun delivered a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
The Rockets, currently in fourth place in the Western Conference, suffered a narrow defeat to the Warriors, losing by seven points.
In their last game before the All-Star break, the national basketball player scored 10 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists.
Aaron Holiday led the scoring for the Rockets with 25 points.
Stephen Curry was the standout performer for the Warriors, scoring a game-high 27 points to guide his team to victory.
Results:
Houston Rockets-Golden State Warriors: 98-105
New Orleans Pelicans-Sacramento Kings: 140-133 (Overtime)
Dallas Mavericks-Miami Heat: 118-113
Minnesota Timberwolves-Oklahoma City Thunder: 116-101
Utah Jazz-Los Angeles Clippers: 116-120 (Overtime)
