Paul Scores 25 To Lead Rockets Over Wolves 117-102

HOUSTON (AP) — Chris Paul scored 25 points, tied a career high with six 3-pointers and had 10 assists, and the Houston Rockets used a big third quarter to pull away and get a 117-102 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night.

The game was close throughout the first half and the Rockets were up by a point at halftime before using a 43-point third quarter, with from Paul, to extend the lead to 15 to start the fourth.

Houston had a 14-point lead with about nine minutes left before using a 10-2 run, with five points from Clint Capela, to make it 106-84 with 5 1/2 minutes to go.

James Harden added 20 points and 10 assists despite dealing with a strained neck after a fall in Friday's win over the Suns, and Capela scored 20 with 13 rebounds.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have dropped their last three.

The victory allows Houston, which has won 11 of its last 12 games overall, to avoid being swept by the Timberwolves this season after they won the first two meetings.

Houston made 21 3-pointers for its 13th game this season with at least 20 to extend its NBA record. The Rockets attempted 50 3s to give them at least 40 attempts in an NBA-record 53 games this season, besting the 52 they did it in last season.

Houston led by 1 at halftime and used an 8-2 run, with consecutive 3s from Eric Gordon, to extend the lead to 58-51 early in the third.

A jump shot by Towns cut the lead to six later in the third before Paul made a 3, stole the ball from Jones and hit another 3 seconds later to make it 70-58.

The Timberwolves called a timeout before Capela made two free throws and Paul made another 3 to push Houston's run to 11-0 and extend the lead to 75-58.

An 8-2 run by Minnesota, with all the points by Taj Gibson, cut the lead to 90-78 late in the third. But Paul was fouled on a 3-pointer after that and made all three free throws to leave Houston up by 15 entering the fourth.

UP NEXT

Timberwolves: Host Golden State on Tuesday night.

Rockets: Visit Atlanta on Tuesday night.

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