After losing their third game in the Summer League in Las Vegas, the Houston Rockets are unlikely to make the playoffs, as most qualifying teams remain undefeated. The Rockets aim for a strong performance in their fourth contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves, with a guaranteed fifth game scheduled for this weekend.
Houston’s record in Las Vegas dropped to 2-2 after losing 93-83 to the Timberwolves, essentially eliminating them from playoff contention. However, the Rockets are focused on the development of their young players.
The Rockets had a slow start in the first quarter, scoring only 16 points compared to the Timberwolves’ 29, which was boosted by Leonard Miller’s strong performance.
Houston’s offense picked up in the second quarter, with Reed Sheppard making three consecutive shots to close the half. Despite this, they trailed 46-39, attempting to recover from their poor start.
Entering the third quarter down by seven points, Houston aimed to turn the game around. They won the quarter, reducing their deficit to just four points. After struggling in the final quarter of their previous game, the Rockets had another chance to improve.
Unfortunately, the Rockets couldn’t close the gap in the fourth quarter and failed to mount a late-game push. Sheppard, after a slow start, scored 20 points on 9-of-17 shooting, outperforming his former Kentucky teammate Rob Dillingham, who scored 15 points on 6-of-21 shooting for the Timberwolves.
AJ Griffin contributed 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including two of his five 3-point attempts. As a team, Houston shot 6-of-23 from beyond the arc, which hindered their offensive efforts.
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