Item 1 of 70 Jan 16, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) warms up before playing against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
[1\/70]Jan 16, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) warms up before playing against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab<\/a><\/p>\n January 17 – Kevin Durant capped a 39-point performance by sinking four free throws in the final minute as the Houston Rockets sealed a 110-105 victory over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.<\/p>\n Durant finished 11 of 18 from the floor and 6 of 8 from 3-point range to lead Houston’s comeback from a 12-point deficit.<\/p>\n His handiwork at the charity stripe answered a late surge from Julius Randle, who matched Durant with 39 points and scored consecutive baskets that sliced a nine-point, fourth-quarter deficit to 105-102 with 1:33 to play. Randle shot 14 of 25 from the floor.<\/p>\n Houston’s Alperen Sengun posted 25 points and 14 rebounds before fouling out late. Reed Sheppard and Amen Thompson each added 14 points for the Rockets.<\/p>\n Naz Reid paired 25 points with nine rebounds off the bench for the Timberwolves, who were without leading scorer Anthony Edwards (foot). The teams combined to miss 29 free throws.<\/p>\n The Rockets secured their first lead at 59-57 on a Durant 3-pointer at the 10:49 mark of the third quarter. That advantage remained slim thanks in large part to Randle, who scored the first 11 points of the half for the Timberwolves before Reid drilled a trey that supplied Minnesota with a 69-67 lead.<\/p>\n Randle resumed his rampage with a dunk on the ensuing Timberwolves possession and totaled 17 points on 6-for-8 shooting in the period, and Minnesota took an 82-81 lead into the fourth.<\/p>\n Minnesota had seven fastbreak points by the midpoint of the first quarter, and when Reid scored in the post at the 3:58 mark, the Timberwolves took their first double-digit lead at 24-13.<\/p>\n Sheppard pulled the Rockets back into contention with a 3-for-3 start from behind the arc, and Houston shaved a 12-point deficit to 34-29 entering the second. However, the Rockets continued their scoring struggles and didn’t record their first basket of the second until 7:53 remained in the half.<\/p>\n Despite their offensive woes, the Rockets kept scrapping. Reid drilled a 3-pointer that extended the Minnesota lead to nine, only for the Rockets to close the half with a flourish. Jabari Smith Jr. blocked a Randle drive to the rim before Houston executed a late offensive set to perfection, with Sheppard finding Durant for a corner trey that cut the margin to 55-53 at the break.<\/p>\n –Field Level Media<\/p>\n Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab<\/a><\/p>\n