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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Houston Rockets are getting balanced
scoring and are slowly creeping into the Western Conference playoff
race.
Maurice Taylor scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half as
the Rockets beat Minnesota 89-83 Wednesday night, extending the
Timberwolves' losing streak to five games.
Houston won for the seventh time in eight games and moved within
three games of the Timberwolves in the hunt for the final playoff
spot in the West. The Rockets also snapped a six-game losing skid
against Minnesota.
"If you would've told me we'd hold (Cuttino) Mobley to 10 and
(Steve) Francis to 12 and lose, I wouldn't have believed you,"
Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said.
Mobley and Francis, the league's third-highest scoring
backcourt, were just 6-for-30 from the field. But Hakeem Olajuwon
had 13 points and 13 rebounds and Taylor helped neutralize the
Wolves' Kevin Garnett underneath.
Olajuwon is averaging 15 points and 11 rebounds over the last
eight games. Taylor had 23 points in 29 minutes Tuesday against
Boston.
"It's a real good sign," Houston coach Rudy Tomjanovich said.
"I'm pleased with how we won it -- with defense and rebounding. It
was the kind of game where we wouldn't draw up a play and score on
it. We had to scramble."
Minnesota had an 11-game winning streak heading into the
All-Star break but has sputtered since, thanks to poor shooting.
Garnett had 23 points and 15 rebounds but shot 9-for-20.
Wally Szczerbiak had 20 points and eight rebounds but was 7-for-18.
Terrell Brandon had 16 points, but just four after halftime.
The Wolves shot 24 percent and were outscored 28-12 in the
second quarter. The 12 points were a season low in the second
period for Minnesota, which closed within three points three times
in the fourth quarter but failed to convert several short shots and
wide-open looks.
Minnesota shot just 21-for-63 (33 percent) over the final three
quarters.
"I don't think it was their defense, it was just us not being
aggressive," Szczerbiak said. "There is a fine line. We needed to
make a couple more shots."
Walt Williams added 12 points in a reserve role for Houston.
"We've been waiting for this to happen," Mobley said. "Steve
and I shot really bad, but we played defense and everyone else
stepped it up."
Francis, who turned 24 Wednesday, left the game with a bruised
rib on his left side late in the first quarter. He returned midway
through the second period and said his injury didn't affect his
shooting.
Francis was more eager to talk about the Rockets' improving
on-court chemistry.
"It's not if we can play together, I think we can play
together," Francis said. "I think we're all starting to fall into
our roles."
Game notes
Houston is 15-13 on the road. ... The Rockets are 12-24
against the West. ... Minnesota coach and general manager Flip
Saunders told reporters before the game he's looking forward to the
passing of Thursday's trading deadline. Saunders said the odds of
the Timberwolves making a deal were "less than 2 percent. I like
to get it over with so you guys will stop speculating."
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NBA Scoreboard
Houston Clubhouse
Minnesota Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 107
Vancouver 91
LA Clippers 100
Cleveland 94
Detroit 90
New York 85
Phoenix 100
Miami 85
New Jersey 113
Toronto 111
Houston 89
Minnesota 83
LA Lakers 101
San Antonio 99
Seattle 127
Denver 98
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