Minnesota Timberwolves: 3 takeaways from Game 4 vs. Rockets

1. Third quarter fallout

It was a back-and-fourth game leading up to the half. Neither team overpowered the another to the point where you could really say they were the better team. At the end of the first quarter, it was a tie game at 21. By halftime, the Rockets had a one-point lead, 50-49.

However, the third quarter came around and that’s where everything went wrong for Minnesota. Houston scored a total of 50 points in one quarter… yes you read that right, 50. Of those 50 points, 22 came from none other than Harden himself.

https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/988605693145047041

Houston scoring 50 points in one quarter set a franchise record for total points scored in one quarter. Just let that sink in: It took the Rockets one quarter to match what they put up in the first half.

It helps when you’re an offensive juggernaut and have the ability to shoot a high volume of 3s, as well as having a rock in the middle with Clint Capela. But, let’s get back to Harden’s crazy third quarter. It didn’t matter who they threw at him, Harden made practically any basket he shot.

After being shut down in the first half, Harden came back with a 7-of-10 shooting output in the third. There’s no denying that he was the deciding factor in Monday’s victory.

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Moving forward, the Wolves will need to limit the turnovers, have Rose continue to play well and more importantly, stop Harden at all costs. Minnesota’s win-or-go-home Game 5 will be played in Houston on Wednesday.