Rockets Trounced by Timberwolves

Posted: January 30, 2012 -- 11:08pm CST.

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) – The Houston Rockets scored 108 points Monday night. Unfortunately for them, the Rockets allowed the Minnesota Timberwolves to score 120 points. The Rockets' 120-108 loss is the Rockets ninth (12-9) of the season. The Rockets struggled to defend the Timberwolves (10-11) the entire ball game.

The Timberwolves shot only 56.8% (21 for 37) in the first half. Only is the word because the Rockets watched the T-wolves shot 59.5% (22 for 37) in the second half.

The Rockets allowed the Timberwolves to shoot above 50 percent from the field in every quarter Monday night.

"We never found anything defensively," Kevin McHale said after the game. "They (Timberwolves) shot 58 percent, they had a 42-point third quarter. We never found anything defensively that we could hang our hat on. We never found a rhythm. Give credit to them (Timberwolves). They went out there and made shots."

Michael Beasley set a franchise record with 34 points -- off the bench. Beasley was 10 of 14 from the field (2 for 3 on threes) and a perfect 12 for 12 from the foul line.

"(Michael) Beasley, we never did find a way to slow him down," McHale added. "He had 32 points (34 points) in 34 minutes…just felt like one of those games we were stuck in the mud."

The Rockets led 56-54 at halftime before the Timberwolves erupted for a team-record 42 points (15 for 24 from the field) in the third quarter.

(Forty-two points in a quarter) "That's unheard of," Courtney Lee said in the locker room. "Coach gets mad when we let a team score thirty points (in a quarter); and, that still not a good defensive effort. You want to keep in the twenties or lower if you can; and, to give up that many points, we've got to give a better effort on the defensive end."

Minnesota's rookie-sensation, Ricky Rubio, started the onslaught with a three-point basket and a floater in the paint. Rubio scored 12 points and handed out five assists in the third period. Beasley scored 11 while Kevin Love chipped in nine.

Former Rockets head coach Rick Adelman was pleased with the way Beasley played Monday night.

"If he's (Beasley) is active, he's really hard to guard," Adelman acknowledged. "When they put a smaller guy on him, he overpowered. I thought he was really patient tonight. He took what was there. When it wasn't there, he gave it to somebody else."

Adelman admitted, the Rockets had a mismatch trying to defend Beasley.

"They had a mismatch in there -- especially Michael. They had Courtney on him. Courtney is a good defender; but, Michael is just bigger than him.; and, when he's attacking, he's hard to guard."

Rubio finished the game with 18 points, 11 assists, and a career-high tying eight rebounds. Kevin Love added 29 points and seven rebounds.

Kevin Martin led the Rockets with 29 points; but, Martin described what happened in the game, "I use the word out-manned. They (Minnesota) are a talented group of kids. (Ricky) Rubio came in tonight and played like a man. (Michael) Beasley came in and played like a man. (Kevin) Love came in and played like a man and they out-manned us the whole night.

Martin summarized his thoughts saying, "Come out with more heart. We got outmanned by some kids tonight."

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