One game after allowing 80 points in Friday’s first half, the Rockets gave up 75 on Sunday versus Minnesota. Houston and its leaky defense went on to allow 130+ points for the fifth time in the last 11 games, leading to a 141-123 Timberwolves win (box score) at Toyota Center.
Not coincidentally, with woeful defense as the clear leading storyline, the Rockets are 1-10 in that 11-game stretch. Karl-Anthony Towns was the biggest beneficiary on Sunday, scoring 40 points on 15-of-25 shooting (60.0%) and dishing out 7 assists in 33 minutes.
Christian Wood led the Rockets with 22 points and 8 rebounds, including 4-of-6 on 3-pointers (66.7%), but it wasn’t nearly enough to keep up with Towns, D’Angelo Russell (22 points, 55.6% on 3-pointers, 10 assists) and Jarred Vanderbilt (21 points, 71.4% FG, 19 rebounds).
Rookie Josh Christopher was a bright spot off the bench for Houston, scoring a career-high 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting (61.4%). In 27 minutes, Christopher also had 4 assists, 3 steals, and 2 rebounds.
Josh Christopher tonight:
19 points (career-high)
3 rebounds
4 assists
2 steals8/13 FG
2/4 3FG
1/2 FTA bright spot tonight, continues to prove he was an absolute steal at pick No. 24
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) January 10, 2022
Christopher easily outperformed Houston’s starting backcourt, with Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. each shooting only 3-of-10 from the field (30.0%) and 1-of-6 on 3-pointers (16.7%).
The Rockets (11-30) don’t have long to dwell on Sunday’s result, since they play night two of a home back-to-back on Monday versus Philadelphia. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. CST. Until then, scroll on for highlights and postgame reaction after the loss to Minnesota (20-20).
