HOUSTON — The Rockets set a record for three-point field goal percentage on Friday, but Kevin Durant secured a 111-105 (statistics) win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.
With this victory, the fifth-seeded Rockets (24-15) are closing in on the fourth-seeded Wolves (27-15) in the Western Conference standings.
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Durant, a perennial All-Star and future Hall of Famer, is a big story.
On the second night of a back-to-back for the Rockets (a loss to Oklahoma City on Thursday), the 37-year-old shot 11-for-18 from the field (61.1 percent), 6-for-8 from 3-point range (75.0 percent), and 11-for-14 from the free throw line (78.6 percent) for a season-high 39 points and seven assists.
“Being aggressive and trying to bounce back from last night,” Durant told Space City Home Network’s Vanessa Richardson of his mindset. “I just love us being together.”
The Timberwolves entered the second night of a back-to-back without All-Star guard Anthony Edwards (toe infection).
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In addition to Durant, key individual statistics for both teams include:
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Alperon Xiangon: 25 points, 14 rebounds; 11 of 22 shooting (50.0%)
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Amen Thompson: 14 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists; 5-for-12 shooting (41.7%)
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Reed Shepard: 14 points, 2 assists in 19 minutes; 5-for-9 shooting (55.6%), 4-for-6 3-point shooting (66.7%)
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Julius Randle (Timberwolves): 39 points, 4 rebounds; 14-for-25 from the field (56.0%), 2-for-5 from 3-point range (0.0%), 9-for-11 from the free throw line (81.8%)
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Rudy Gobert (Wolves): 10 points, 13 rebounds, 2 blocks; 4-of-7 shooting (57.1%), 2-of-10 free throws (20.0%)
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Naz Reid (Wolves): 25 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists; 8-for-12 shooting (66.7%), 5-for-7 3-point shooting (71.4%), 4-for-5 free throw shooting (80.0%)
Overall, Houston shot 39 of 84 overall (46.4%) and 12 of 28 from 3-point range (42.9%), a significant improvement over recent games.
The Rockets’ next game is Sunday against New Orleans (10-34), the fourth of five home games at Toyota Center.
Rockets vs. Pelicans will take place at 6:00 PM Central Time and will be broadcast regionally on Space City Home Network (SCHN) and nationally on NBA League Pass.
More: ‘Exponentially better’: Houston’s Tristan Newton impresses Wolves
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets 110, Wolves 105: Kevin Durant scores season-high 39 points in key win