ROCKETS WIN IN OT
Rockets beat Wolves in OT to clinch NBA Cup group
Nov 26, 2024, 10:43 pm
Rockets defeat the Timberwolves, 117-111. Photo by David Berding/Getty Images.
Alperen Sengun had 22 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, Fred VanVleet added 27 points and 11 assists, and the Houston Rockets pulled out a 117-111 overtime win against the Minnesota Timberwolves in an NBA Cup game on Tuesday night.
Dillon Brooks added 22 points for Houston, which improved to 3-0 in the competition and clinched West Group A and a spot in the NBA Cup quarterfinals.
Anthony Edwards had 29 points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota, which has lost three in a row. Julius Randle scored 21, while Naz Reid had 19 off the bench.
Rookie Rob Dillingham, the No. 8 pick in the draft out of Kentucky, had his best game of the season, helping to fill the void left by point guard Mike Conley, who missed his third straight game with a left great toe sprain. Dillingham had 12 points and season highs with seven assists and five rebounds.
Takeaways
Rockets: This young team has shown it’s for real, particularly on the defensive end. It had 12 steals, nine blocks and forced the Wolves into 17 turnovers that led to 16 points.
Timberwolves: Regardless of the loss, Minnesota needed this type of performance after back-to-back losses and a narrow win over Phoenix, which was without Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.
Key moment
With 15 seconds left in regulation, Sengun got a pass on a drive to the basket for a potential layup, but Gobert came across for the block to keep the score tied. Edwards’ jumper on the other end was off the mark and the game went to overtime.
Key stat
Houston shot 15 of 37 from 3-point territory, including a 10 of 18 in the first half to build its lead.
UP NEXT
Both teams were playing the first game of a back-to-back set. Houston plays at Philadelphia on Wednesday night, while the Wolves stay home against Sacramento.
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According to multiple reports, the Houston Texans are signing offensive tackle Cam Robinson to a 1-year contract.
Free-agent OT Cam Robinson is signing with the Houston Texans, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 19, 2025
KPRC2's Aaron Wilson is reporting that the 1-year deal has a max value of $14.5 million.
With Laremy Tunsil now a member of the Commanders, clearly the Texans wanted to add some more talent at the tackle position.
Rookie right tackle Blake Fisher showed some promise last season, but he also had his share of struggles, as one would expect from a first-year player.
This move provides the Texans with flexibility if they choose to play Tytus Howard at guard again, while also giving GM Nick Caserio additional options in the draft.
Many believed the Texans would be locked in on drafting an offensive lineman with their first pick, which they may still do. But now, they can focus on taking the best player available, which could very well be a receiver at No. 25 overall.
Plus, this addition will make the Texans less predictable on draft day when rival teams are trying to predict who Caserio will draft based on Houston's needs.
Robinson started all 17 games last season, splitting time between the Jaguars and the Vikings. The Vikings traded for Robinson after their starting tackle Christian Darrisaw was lost for the season to injury. With Robinson in the last year of his deal and the Jags' season setting up to be another failure, Jacksonville decided to trade their left tackle away. Robinson (age 29) was drafted by the Jaguars in the 2nd round out of Alabama in 2017.
Make no mistake about it, this is a solid pickup by the Texans!