NBA on Dec. 3: Timberwolves win 2nd half dominance over Rockets

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Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 24 points, 11 rebounds, and three steals to help the Minnesota Timberwolves recover from a 19-point, first-half deficit to post a 103-91 victory over the visiting Houston Rockets on Monday night.

Andrew Wiggins scored 16 points for Minnesota, which won for the fifth time in the past six games.

The Timberwolves led 86-82 after three quarters and opened the fourth with eight straight points.

James Harden (C) of the Houston Rockets drives to the basket during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., December 3, 2018. /VCG Photo

Houston missed its first six shots of the quarter until Harden connected on an 11-footer with 6:43 remaining. The Rockets finally cut the deficit to single digits when Paul nailed a 3-pointer to cut Minnesota's lead to 98-89 with 3:23 left. But Gibson and Teague each made two free throws to push the lead to 13 to help the Timberwolves close it out.

Minnesota trailed 62-48 at halftime before making seven 3-pointers during a 38-point third quarter to take a four-point lead.

Towns and Saric hit back-to-back 3-pointers a short time later to give Minnesota a five-point lead before settling for the four-point edge entering the final stanza.

James Harden had 29 points and eight assists for Houston, which tallied just nine fourth-quarter points while falling for the fifth time in its past seven games.

Nikola Jokic (R) of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball against the Toronto Raptors at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada, December 3, 2018. /VCG Photo

Jokic's triple-double helps Nuggets snap Raptors' streak

Nikola Jokic had a triple-double with 23 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds and made three free throws in the final seconds as the visiting Denver Nuggets ended the Toronto Raptors' eight-game winning streak with a 106-103 win Monday night.

Jokic made a free throw with seven seconds remaining to end a tie and made two more with 5.6 seconds left for the final margin, extending Denver's winning streak to six games.

Kawhi Leonard (L) of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball against the Denver Nuggets at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada, December 3, 2018. /VCG Photo

Kawhi Leonard led Toronto with 27 points and also had eight rebounds. Serge Ibaka added 15 points, Pascal Siakam had 14 and Kyle Lowry had five points and 11 assists.

Denver led 27-24 after the first quarter after going ahead with an 8-0 run.

The Nuggets took 59-47 advantage into halftime, paced by 14 points, 10 assists and five rebounds from Jokic. Beasley's running dunk after a Toronto miss nudged the lead back to 10 for the Nuggets, who led 86-78 after the third quarter.

Jamal Murray added 21 points for the Nuggets, and Juancho Hernangomez and Malik Beasley had 15 each.

Other games on Monday: (away teams come first)

Oklahoma City Thunder 110-83 Detroit Pistons

Golden State Warriors 128-111 Atlanta Hawks

Cleveland Cavaliers 99-97 Brooklyn Nets

Washington Wizards 110-107 New York Knicks

LA Clippers 129-126 New Orleans Pelicans

Source(s): Reuters