NBA scores 2016: Rockets’ impossible comeback over Timberwolves extends win streak to 10

With 2:20 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Minnesota Timberwolves held a 93-81 lead over the Houston Rockets. It was just about time to chalk up Houston’s eighth loss of the season and crush all hopes of extending its winning streak.

But just like every great basketball story, something happened; something always happens. This time, that something was a Mike D’Antoni timeout with 1:37 left. And after Trevor Ariza missed a three-pointer, the Rockets unleashed a flurry of perimeter jumpers in a bizarre late-game comeback.

The Rockets held the T’Wolves to just six points in the last 4:42 of the fourth quarter and made three three-pointers in the period’s final 38 seconds to force overtime, where they stole a 111-109 win over Minnesota in a game they no business winning.

Houston has won its last 10 games.

Despite a poor 8-for-20 shooting night, James Harden finished with a near triple double: 28 points, nine rebounds and 13 assists. He assisted on or scored each of Houston’s final seven field goals.

Minnesota was unable to defend the pick-and-pop, and the Rockets kept finding Ryan Anderson, who scorched the T’Wolves for 28 points, including seven three-pointers.

Karl-Anthony Towns displayed his usual brilliance with 41 points (15-for-28 shooting), 15 rebounds and five assists, and Zach LaVine added an extra 24 points. But Minnesota lacked the smothering defense usually trademarked by a Tom Thibodeau-coached team, allowing the Rockets to shoot their way back into the game late.

Houston is now 21-7 when it should have been 20-8, with the Timberwolves falling further below .500 with a 7-19 record. Here’s what else you missed on a busy NBA Saturday night:

Westbrook scored 26 points, dished out 22 assists and grabbed 11 rebounds in Oklahoma City’s 114-101 win over Phoenix.

It was just the fourth time a player posted at least 25 points and 20 assists in a triple-double, joining Magic Johnson (1984 and 1988) and Isiah Thomas (1985). The only other players in the last 35 years to post a triple-double with 20 points and 20 assists is Rod Strickland.

Only three bench players — Iman Shumpert, Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson — either scored or attempted a shot. That’s because Cleveland’s 119-108 victory over the Lakers was dominated by its big three.

Love grabbed 17 rebounds to go along with his 27 points (11-for-20 shooting) and four assists. Irving posted a double-double: 21 points and 12 assists; and LeBron piled on 26 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks to propel the Cavaliers to their 19th win of the season.

A side note: Timofey Mozgov, who signed a four-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers over the summer, returned to the Quicken Loans Arena for the first time this season. Mozgov was an integral piece to a Cavaliers team that came back from down 3-1 to defeat the Golden State Warriors in last year’s NBA Finals.

The 7-foot center received his championship ring on Saturday night and his former teammates welcomed him the only way they knew how.

SB Nation’s Paul Flannery wrote an amazing Sunday Shootaround piece centered around the Spurs’ budding star Kawhi Leonard finding his voice as San Antonio’s new leader. It is titled Kawhi Speaks Up, and the Spurs Listen.

The same can’t be said for Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks.

After dropping back-to-back road games to the Suns then the Warriors, Anthony called Saturday’s game against the Denver Nuggets a “must-win.”

“It’s a big game for us. It’s a big game. Must-win. I know it’s early, but this is kind of a must-win mentality for us,” Anthony said.

His words fell on deaf ears. The Knicks found themselves down as much as 21 on two separate occasions, and although Melo scored 29 points on an overly efficient 10-for-14 shooting, the Broadway star’s supporting cast was a no-show.

Kristaps Porzingis scored 22 points but on just 7-for-19 shooting. Courtney Lee scored 10 points but made only four of his 12 shots. Brandon Jennings shot 25 percent from the floor. The most impressive Knick after Anthony was rookie Willy Hernangomez, who picked up a double-double — 17 points (5-for-8 shooting) and 10 rebounds — in front of his older brother, Juancho, who rode the pine for Denver for all but one minute.

New York is now 14-13 after standing 14-10 earlier in the week. The face Indiana on Tuesday in what could be another “must-win” if the Knicks don’t want to start a downward spiral similar to last year’s mid-season collapse.

Towns gave the Rockets’ defense fits all night long. Unfortunately, his T’Wolves couldn’t stop a late Houston comeback.

Just another angle of one of the best offensive sequences of the season.

Not only is this a beautifully drawn-up play — a driving Harden sucks in two defenders before finding an open shooter — but Ryan Anderson is shooting from the hash line with a defender closing out on him. And he swished it.

Durant made four of his five three-point attempts and didn’t seem to miss all night. You knew what kind of a night he was going to have when KD splashed a contested triple for his first basket.

Any other player is looking to score when this close to the rim. Not Draymond Green. Green would not stop diming his teammates Saturday night, and that’s something that won’t stop anytime soon.

Honorable mentions — Reggie Jackson: 19 points, 10 assists; Paul George: 26 points, 7 rebounds; Nick Young: 32 points, 12-for-19 shooting; Ian Clark: career-high 23 points.

Pacers 105, Pistons 90 [Indy Cornrows recap | Detroit Bad Boys recap]

Thunder 114, Suns 101 [Welcome to Loud City recap | Bright Side of the Sun recap]

Hornets 107, Hawks 99 [At the Hive recap | Peachtree Hoops recap]

Cavaliers 119, Lakers 108 [Fear the Sword recap | Silver Screen and Roll recap]

Rockets 111, Timberwolves 109 (OT) [The Dream Shake recap | Canis Hoopus recap]

Nuggets 127, Knicks 114 [Denver Stiffs recap | Posting and Toasting recap]

Warriors 135, Trail Blazers 90 [Golden State of Mind recap | Blazer’s Edge recap]