“It just so happens that we’re playing some of the Western Conference teams”.
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Beasley led Houston with a season-high 30 points, including 12 of the team’s 14 fourth-quarter points.
The Hawks, who have moved up to third in the Eastern Conference, had six scorers in double figures, including three reserves.
Kyle Korver, typically the Hawks’ long-distance shooting specialist, dunks the ball in Saturday’s game against the Rockets.
“After a long road trip, I just thought we kind of ran out of gas”, Timberwolves coach Sam Mitchell said. He made five of seven 3-pointers.
Hardaway’s sudden emergence is one reason the Hawks suddenly look stronger than only a few weeks ago. “I don’t use the “we have to get better” on him tonight”. His focus is on continuing to be great on the defensive end, and now I think he’s a little more natural, a little more comfortable.
Houston took back control with 42 points in the second quarter including a 13-0 run at one point.
Timberwolves rookie Karl-Anthony Towns posted his 40th double-double with a game-high 32 points and 11 rebounds as Minnesota matched Houston with five starters in double figures. “Down the stretch we just made some mistakes”.
A 3-pointer by Horford gave Atlanta a 100-95 lead.
Rockets: Houston improved to 21-5 when outrebounding opponents this season. They have 12 more games left in the season and teams like the Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz could surpass them in the standings and force them out of the playoffs for the first time since 2012.
Harden twisted an ankle when he was fouled by Sefolosha late in the third quarter.
Former Rocket and current Minnesota forward Greg Smith played seven minutes and had two rebounds as he continues to audition for an extended contract.
“Explosiveness really wasn’t there”, Harden said. It’s frustrating when you started getting into a groove. Dwight Howard could not finish in the rim ( though he banked in two straight free throws), which is interesting given what he was caught doing. James Harden had 25 and Dwight Howard had eight points and 17 rebounds.
When the Wolves drew to within one possession in the fourth quarter, the Rockets were seemingly always able to push their lead back to two or even three buckets. The Hawks committed nine turnovers in the second period.
Hawks: Paul Millsap had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
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“The way we started the game and the way we finished the game, defensively, a 16-point first quarter and then importantly, a 14-point fourth quarter”, Mike Budenholzer said after the game. He was questionable because of a bone bruise that forced him to miss the March 17 game against Denver….
