Minnesota outlast Houston 117-107 as Dosunmu scores 21

Minnesota beat Houston 117-107 on Wednesday 4 November 2026 at the Toyota Center, in front of 18,055 spectators. Ayo Dosunmu finished as the Timberwolves' top scorer with 21 points, 6 assists and no turnovers in 34 minutes. There were 26 lead changes in total. The visitors won the fourth quarter 35-23.

Anthony Edwards (knee), Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) and Terrence Shannon Jr. (hip) were all ruled out for Minnesota, according to the pre-game injury report. Houston played without Steven Adams (calf) and Clint Capela (ankle). Minnesota move to 6-3 and occupy No. 7 in the Western Conference. Houston are 7-2 and sit at No. 3 in the West. The final margin of ten points was built in the last twelve minutes.

An 8-0 Houston run, and honours even at the break

The start of the game was tight. Houston went on an 8-0 run, from 20-23 to 28-23, which began with 3:05 left in the first quarter. The Rockets then reached their biggest lead of the night, five points, with 1:49 left in the period. Minnesota turned the end of the quarter around and finished it ahead, 33-30.

Houston took the second quarter 27-24, and the two teams went into the locker rooms level at 57-57. Over the whole game, the score was tied 15 times.

Houston lead by two, the fourth quarter decides it

The third quarter had much the same feel. Houston won it 27-25 and went into the last twelve minutes ahead, 84-82. The Rockets never led by more than five points, though.

The final quarter belonged to the Timberwolves. Minnesota won it 35-23, their best total in any period and Houston's lowest of the night. The biggest margin of the game, 11 points, only came at 117-106, with 28.2 seconds left to play.

Minnesota's key contributors

Ayo Dosunmu was the leading scorer with 21 points, 10 of 20 from the field and 6 assists. He did not turn the ball over in 34 minutes. LaMelo Ball added 20 points on 6 of 11 shooting, including 4 of 7 from three, with 6 assists and 3 steals. His plus-minus of +15 was the best in the game, despite 7 turnovers. Bones Hyland scored 19 points in 16 minutes off the bench, hitting 4 of 7 three-pointers.

Jonathan Kuminga contributed 16 points, also going 4 of 7 from long range, along with 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Jaden McDaniels finished with 14 points and 8 rebounds, despite going 0 of 6 from three. Rudy Gobert grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked 4 shots, to go with 8 points.

As a team, Minnesota hit 46 of 87 shots, or 53%, including 15 of 35 from three. The Timberwolves won the rebounding battle 45 to 41 and had 28 assists to 22. They added 19 fast-break points, against 7 for Houston.

Houston had Sengun and Durant, but not control of the ball

Kevin Durant finished as the Rockets' top scorer with 21 points on 7 of 14 shooting and 5 rebounds. He also turned the ball over 4 times. Alperen Sengun recorded a triple-double, with 17 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, plus 3 blocks in 39 minutes. His shooting let him down, 5 of 15 from the field, and he gave the ball away 4 times, as did Fred VanVleet, who scored 18 points and hit 4 of 9 from three.

Reed Sheppard contributed 14 points and 3 steals off the bench. Jabari Smith Jr. made 3 of 4 shots for 11 points and 3 blocks. Amen Thompson grabbed 8 rebounds and scored 11 points, on 3 of 9 shooting, with the worst plus-minus on his team, -11. Oscar Tshiebwe, born in Lubumbashi in Congo, played 2 minutes and made his only shot.

Houston dominated at the free-throw line, making 24 of 30 against 10 of 19. From the field, the shooting was off: 35 of 82, or 43%, and 13 of 37 from long range. Houston also turned the ball over 22 times. Those turnovers handed Minnesota 33 points.

Three takeaways

Minnesota scored 14 more points than Houston off turnovers. The Rockets lost the ball 22 times to Minnesota's 17, and those turnovers cost them 33 points, against 19 the other way. The difference in that department alone, fourteen points, is greater than the final margin.

Minnesota made up for their free throws from the field. At 10 of 19 from the line, the Timberwolves gave away fourteen points to Houston in that department. They made 11 more field goals, 46 to 35, and scored 54 points in the paint to 40.

The scoring was spread around without Edwards. Five Minnesota players scored at least 14 points: Dosunmu 21, Ball 20, Hyland 19, Kuminga 16 and McDaniels 14. Ball, Hyland and Kuminga each hit 4 three-pointers, 12 between them. Minnesota made 15 threes in total, two more than Houston.

The SNA view

Minnesota won this game in the fourth quarter. Houston never led by more than five points, and the Timberwolves' biggest margin, 11 points, only came with 28.2 seconds left. In a game this tight, the Rockets' 22 turnovers weighed heavier than Sengun's triple-double. Minnesota were not flawless: 17 turnovers, 7 of them by Ball, and 10 of 19 at the free-throw line leave room for improvement. But without Edwards, DiVincenzo and Shannon Jr., the Timberwolves found five scorers on 14 points or more and a Dosunmu who never gave the ball away. That ball security, combined with shooting of 53% against 43%, was enough in a fourth quarter won by twelve points.

What's next

Minnesota, at 6-3 and No. 7 in the Western Conference, travel to New Orleans on Friday 6 November. Houston, at 7-2 and No. 3 in the West, play at Phoenix on Saturday 7 November. In the regular-season series between the two teams, Minnesota lead 1-0.