CP3 scored 27; Gerald Green scored 21; Rockets rout Timberwolves in Game 2

Posted: April 18, 2018 -- 11:55 pm CDT.

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Rockets have not clicked on all cylinders in the first two games of the best-of-7 first round series versus the Minnesota Timberwolves; however, with a 102-82 thumping of the Wolves Wednesday night, the Rockets lead the series 2-0.

The Rockets won by 20 points. James Harden shot 2 for 18 from the floor. Think about that.

James Harden had more steals (3) and blocked shots (3) than made baskets (2). Despite Harden's poor shooting night, the Rockets shook off a sluggish first quarter and blew out the Timberwolves.

"I’m more happy than anybody right now believe it or not just because I’m not worried about my shot," James Harden said after the game. "Like those same shots in Game 1, they went in. Game 3, I’ll shoot those same shots. I’m fortunate to have guys like Gerald (Green) and just the entire the team to be able to have my back on both ends of the floor. I just try to make an impact on the game in other ways, not just offensively. (I’m) happy we got the win and now we’ve got to focus on Game 3, that’s when the series starts now."

Houston trailed Minnesota 23-18 after the first quarter. Houston shot 5 for 25 from the floor in the first period; but, the Rockets bounced back and shot 50 percent (12 for 24) in the second quarter and outscored the Timberwolves 37-17 to lead 55-40 at halftime.

Chris Paul scored a game-high 27 points and dished out a game-high 8 assists. No other player had at least 25 points, 8 assists, and 3 steals in fewer than 31 minutes of play.

CP3 bounced back from a subpar Game 1 in a big way Wednesday night. Sunday, in Game 1, Paul committed 6 turnovers and missed 9 of his 14 field goal attempts.

Harden said he knew Chris Paul would play well in Game 2.

"How much he cares and how much he works he puts in with this being the only year he’s been here," Harden commented. "Obviously, you’ve seen what he does on other teams; but, how much he loves the game of basketball. I know he was beating himself up after Game 1, he called me, we talked a little bit. I said, ‘Don’t worry about it, a win is all that matters.’ I knew he was going to come back and be aggressive, and that’s what he did. He got some shots to fall and that’s all it took."

Wednesday night, Paul only turned over the ball one time and made 10 of 18 field goal attempts.

"I didn't have a doubt about Chris," said Rockets Head Coach Mike D'Antoni. "Most of our guys, they're going to have a bad game. James (Harden) didn't have a great game tonight. So what? It's going to happen. They'll be snapping back; and, when we get everybody on the good game page -- again, we missed a slew of threes -- but, we played great defense; hustled; and that's what you've got to do."

During the regular season, the Rockets were 23-2 when CP3 scored 20 or more points in a game.

Gerald Green helped erase a 23-18 first quarter deficit with 12 points in the second quarter. Green shot 4 for 5 from three-point range and also pulled down 5 rebounds in 7 and half minutes in the second period.

Green finished the game with playoff career-highs of 21 points and 12 rebounds (in 26 minutes).

"My job is pretty fairly easy: just try to bring a lot of energy on both ends of the floor, to try to find the open spaces in the offense to be able to knock down shots," Green said after the game. "I am actually blessed to play with the MVP (James Harden) and Chris Paul, and those two guys to be able to get inside the defense and make easy plays for guys like us and the shooters on the team. I think my job today was to get open, cause energy and hit down shots and try to play with energy on both ends of the floor."

The Rockets led by as much as 27 points in the second half. Houston's smallest lead in the second half was 16 (58-42).

Minnesota's 82 points scored tied the fewest points the Rockets allowed during the regular season (at Dallas, March 12, 2018). The 82 points are the fewest points the Rockets have allowed in the playoffs since holding the L.A. Lakers to 80 on May 14, 2009. Houston was 32-5 when holding opponents below 100 points during the regular season.

"We have to learn from it," said Minnesota Head Coach Tom Thibodeau. "Learn and move forward. And, now we're going home; and, we have to be ready when we go home. They've (Houston Rockets) been a great home team all year; and, I thought we played really well in Game 1. And, we didn't play well tonight. But, we have to bounce back."

Houston won despite Minnesota shooting 38.8 percent compared to Houston's 36.5 percent. The last time the Rockets won a playoff game despite shooting below 37.0% was versus the Utah Jazz (36.1%) on April 23, 2007.

"We have to dig in and study the game," said Tom Thibodeau, Minnesota Head Coach. "There’s the disappointment of the loss obviously, but any time you lose it’s the way you approach the loss. We have to learn from it. Learn and move forward. And now we’re going home and we have to be ready when we go home. They’ve (Houston Rockets) been a great home team all year and I thought we played really well in Game 1 and we didn’t play well tonight, but we have to bounce back."

Game 3 is at Minnesota, Saturday, April 21, at 6:30 p.m.

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