Timberwolves vs. Rockets Game 2 results: Rockets get easy win over Timberwolves

The Rockets will now head to Minnesota for Games 3 and 4 with an easy 2-0 lead over the Timberwolves. Minnesota came out strong to start Game 2 and led early in the second quarter. That was until Eric Gordon and Gerald Green happened. Green came off the bench in the second quarter scoring 12 points and hitting four three-pointers, sparking the Rockets for the rest of the evening.

Game 3 will be Minnesota’s first NBA playoff game since 2004 but it’s not going to be a fun one if the Wolves don’t figure out how to get Karl-Anthony Towns involved. He’s taking 18 shots across both games and on Wednesday night, he scored five points on nine shots. That simply is not going to work if the Wolves want to figure this out.

The Rockets have honestly not shot well in Game 1 or 2 but the Timberwolves have not been able to capitalize on it. Meanwhile, the Rockets are finding ways to win despite their struggles from behind the line.

While Chris Paul led the way with 27 points, James Harden only had 12, making it a light night for the likely MVP of the season. That’s great news for Houston and not so great for Minnesota.

Here’s how it all went down:

Houston cruise to a 2-0 lead in this series. Chris Paul lead the way with 27 points on 18 shots in 29 minutes. He also had eight assists and only one turnover on his spectacular night. The Wolves led this one early but once the Rockets took over in the second quarter it was all over.

This one is all but over as the fourth quarter starts. Its not that the score is the largest deficit we’ve ever seen, but the demeanor you can see in the Rockets vs. the Timberwolves is enough to know. The amazing part for the Rockets is that James Harden still only has 12 points. It’s been everyone else for Houston in this one.

This is the Chris Paul game now. He’s up to 18 points and is affecting the game on both ends and making life miserable for the Timberwolves.

Well, the Rockets are up 15 and James Harden only has nine points in the first half. Chris Paul leads the way with 15 points and Green still has 12 all from the second quarter.

Meanwhile, the Timberwolves still haven’t figured a way to get Karl-Anthony Towns going in this series. He only has nine points and the Wolves are 2-of-9 from the behind the arc. None of that will get you a win against Houston.

This game has completely turned for the Rockets. Gerald Green has ignited this team with 12 points in the second quarter and four three-pointers!

We get a minute without scoring, before Harden hits one of two free throws, and then another minute without scoring. It’s broken again by free throws, these Bjelica’s for Minnesota. He sinks both of them. Paul hits a three after Jones misses a Jumper, and we’re down to under a minute in the first quarter. Crawford misses on a hook shot, Gordon misses a three, and Green gets a shooting foul for Houston. Crawford makes one of two free throws, and then it’s Paul with two more for Houston after a Bjelica personal.

Harden blocks a big one from Teague, and earns an offensive foul after the rebound for charging. Towns hits a hook shot, and Wiggins gets the steal for the Wolves. Towns goes to the line and misses both free throws after a shooting foul on Tucker. Ariza hits a three for Houston, and Gordon misses .. both of his free throw attempts after a Wiggins foul.

Harden connects with one — but he’s made just one of four through the first few minutes. He does get to the free throw line and puts one down. Houston gets as hift with three misses, but three rebounds and, eventually, the Capela layup goes in.

The Timberwolves were the first to get out on the board after a pair of misses from Houston, including a three-pointer from Ariza. Teague drove for a layup, made a jumper and hit a free throw after a Houston foul. It was Paul who got the first points for the Rockets.

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The Minnesota Timberwolves couldn’t have asked for a worse Game 1 from the Houston Rockets, yet they still couldn’t capitalize on it. The Wolves lost, 104-101, despite the Rockets’ poor shooting night.

Houston made just 10-of-37 looks from deep, and seven of those shots belonged to James Harden, who finished with 44 points. With Chris Paul and the rest of the Rockets’ rotation struggling, this was Minnesota’s chance. The Wolves get another opportunity on the road Wednesday night at 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT.

The Wolves were all over the place Sunday night. Their two best scorers — Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns — didn’t finish in the top-two in shot attempts. Instead, Andrew Wiggins led with 15, and Derrick Rose, a late-season signing, had 14. The two combined for a fine 34 points on those 29 attempts, while Towns and Butler scored eight and 13 points, respectively. That can’t be the balance Minnesota fans were looking for.

Don’t expect Houston’s offense to look so stale again. One of the league’s most potent offenses ever is unlikely to see Trevor Ariza, Eric Gordon, P.J. Tucker, and Chris Paul struggle in the same game again. The Rockets could take a commanding 2-0 lead.

Date: April 18

Where: Toyota Center, Houston

Time: 9:30 p.m. ET

TV: TNT