Edwards scores 44; Wolves hand Rockets 13th straight loss

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards posted a season-high 44 points, D’Angelo Russell added 23 and the Minnesota Timberwolves handed the Houston Rockets their 13th straight loss with a 113-104 win Saturday night.

Edwards topped 40 points on 17 of 29 shots from the field for the first time this season, including seven 3-point shots. Nathan Knight sparked off the bench to post a season-high 19 points.

Houston’s Alperen Sengun scored 19 points and snatched 16 rebounds, capitalizing on a Timberwolves team that was without Rudy Gobert (right groin pain) for the third straight season. Sengun scored his first seven field goals and was the catalyst in Houston overtaking Minnesota 56-30.

Eric Gordon added 16 points and Tari Eason finished the tournament with 14 points and nine rebounds. Jalen Green, Houston’s top scorer this season, was held at 10 points.

The Rockets, who lead the NBA in earnings per game, signed 23, resulting in 30 points for Minnesota.

STREAK CONTINUES

The 13-game losing streak is the longest in the NBA this season and the longest since the Detroit Pistons lost 14 straight games between November and December 2021. The Rockets’ last win came on December 26, a 133-118 win over the Chicago Bulls.

“Going through those moments and going through this time will make it even sweeter when we get through them,” said coach Stephen Silas, adding that he’s tried to keep the team sticking to their routines despite the struggles. “We are still young and we will make mistakes and there will be adversity but as a result we will be tested well as we progress and get better.”

TIP INS

Rockets: Kevin Porter Jr. (back) will be reevaluated in about a week. He has missed the last six games. “The (doctors) see there’s still pain and it has to be pain-free,” said Silas…Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle) was suspended, his second missed game of the season. Smith left the third quarter of Wednesday’s loss to Charlotte and didn’t return… The Rockets have turned the ball at least 20 times in 10 games this season.

Timberwolves: Taurean Prince left the team in the third quarter and did not return with a lower body injury. … Gobert has missed nine games this season. It’s the second time he’s missed three games in a row. Naz Reid started in Gobert’s place. There is “no timetable” for Karl-Anthony Towns’ return, said coach Chris Finch.

The Rockets host the Timberwolves in the second game of the home-and-home series on Monday.

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