Timberwolves Beat Rockets 117-107 Behind Dosunmu, Strong Fourth

The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Houston Rockets 117-107 on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, with Ayo Dosunmu leading the winners with 21 points and six assists. Minnesota outscored Houston 35-23 in the fourth quarter at Toyota Center, overcoming a two-point deficit entering the final period despite Alperen Sengun’s triple-double.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter: Timberwolves Take a Narrow Lead

Minnesota opened with a 33-30 advantage, establishing an early edge in a productive offensive quarter for both teams. Those three points were the only separation after the opening 12 minutes.

Second Quarter: Rockets Draw Even

Houston answered by outscoring Minnesota 27-24 in the second quarter. The Rockets erased the opening-period deficit, sending the teams into halftime tied at 57-57.

Third Quarter: Houston Moves Ahead

The Rockets posted another 27-point quarter while holding Minnesota to 25. That gave Houston an 84-82 lead entering the fourth, with neither team having established a substantial advantage through three periods.

Fourth Quarter: Minnesota Pulls Away

The Timberwolves delivered their highest-scoring quarter when it mattered most, outscoring Houston 35-23. That 12-point advantage turned a two-point deficit into a 10-point road victory. Houston’s 23 points represented its lowest-scoring quarter of the night.

Key Performers

• Ayo Dosunmu, Timberwolves: Scored 21 points and added six assists, leading Minnesota in both categories and sharing the game’s scoring lead with Kevin Durant.
• Jonathan Kuminga, Timberwolves: Contributed 16 points and eight rebounds, providing valuable scoring and rebounding support.
• Rudy Gobert, Timberwolves: Led Minnesota with 11 rebounds as the visitors finished with a 45-41 advantage on the glass.
• Alperen Sengun, Rockets: Recorded a triple-double with 17 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, plus three blocks. He accounted for 10 of Houston’s 22 assists.
• Kevin Durant, Rockets: Led Houston with 21 points, matching Dosunmu for the highest scoring total in the game.

NerdSports Stat: Minnesota scored exactly 107 points from field goals alone—the same as Houston’s entire scoring total. The Timberwolves’ 24-point advantage from the field offset a 14-point disadvantage at the free-throw line.

Game Analysis

Shooting efficiency gave Minnesota the decisive overall advantage. The Timberwolves made 46 of 87 field-goal attempts, shooting 52.9%, compared with Houston’s 35-for-82 performance and 42.7% accuracy. Minnesota also converted 15 of 35 three-point attempts, or 42.9%, while Houston finished 13-for-37 from beyond the arc at 35.1%.

The visitors paired that efficiency with 28 assists, six more than Houston, and a four-rebound edge. Those advantages helped Minnesota overcome a significant gap at the foul line: the Timberwolves made just 10 of 19 free throws, while the Rockets converted 24 of 30.

Houston’s free-throw production and Sengun’s all-around contribution kept the game close through three quarters. The difference came in the final period, when Minnesota improved its scoring output to 35 points while Houston managed 23. Without individual quarter-by-quarter statistics, that finish is best understood as a team-level advantage rather than attributed to a specific player’s late scoring.

Closing Context: Records and Next Games

Minnesota finished the night at 6-3 overall and 3-2 on the road, while Houston stood at 7-2 overall and 4-1 at home. The Rockets remained one game ahead by overall record, though Minnesota came away with this head-to-head result. The Timberwolves next face the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, November 6, at 5:00 p.m. PST. Houston next faces the Denver Nuggets on Monday, November 9, at 5:30 p.m. PST.

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