MINNEAPOLIS—James Harden was Josh Okogie’s responsibility for much of Wednesday night. Even though Harden piled up 42 points, Okogie’s teammates were full of praise for the Nigerian rookie.
“It wasn’t a good 42,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “It wasn’t a 42 that he’s been getting recently, you know. He had to work for it.”
Towns had 25 points, Jeff Teague had 27 points and 12 rebounds, and Okogie locked down Harden when it counted most to help the Timberwolves beat the Houston Rockets, 121-111.
Harden scored 30 or more points for the 31st consecutive game, tying Wilt Chamberlain for the second-longest streak in league history.
But it was Okogie—who had 16 points—drawing the most praise for making some key defensive stops. Most notably, Okogie brought the crowd to its feet with an impressive block that helped turn the tide.
After being stripped by Okogie a few plays earlier, Harden made one of his trademark step-back moves behind the arc to attempt a three. The ball didn’t even leave his hand before Okogie leaped forward and stuffed it.
“I knew the shot clock was winding down, and I knew that he had to create some space to get a shot off,” Okogie said. “And I knew obviously the step back is one of his go-to moves, so I kind of just guessed, and I was right.”
A few plays earlier, Okogie sparked the Timberwolves to retake the lead with an 18-2 run in the third, including a breakaway dunk and a three-pointer to give Minnesota a 77-74 lead.
“We saw him grow up tonight in a lot of ways, I thought,” Timberwolves Interim Coach Ryan Saunders said of Okogie. “In terms of game plan, following the game plan, just staying within the moment and not getting outside of himself.”
Derrick Rose completed a three-point play with 1:43 left in the third to give Minnesota an 85-76 lead.
Harden’s 12-footer made it 89-all in the fourth before the Timberwolves hit four three-pointers to take a six-point lead. Harden hit three-straight three-pointers to pull Houston within 115-111 with 1:52 to play. But Okogie dunked and forced Harden into an airball, and Towns hit a lay-up to give Minnesota just enough breathing room.
“You could feel the whole game there wasn’t enough enthusiasm, not enough want,” Rockets Coach Mike D’Antoni said. “When we do that, we struggle because we’re not physical like the other teams.”
In Portland, Damian Lillard scored 29 points and Portland snapped Golden State’s five-game winning streak with a chippy 129-107 victory that included the late ejection of Warriors Coach Steve Kerr.
Jake Layman added 17 points off the bench for the Blazers, who had eight players in double figures. The win snapped a two-game skid.
Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry each had 32 points for the Warriors, who rested DeMarcus Cousins following a victory at home over Utah the night before.
Portland led 110-103 before Golden State’s Draymond Green was called for a flagrant foul on Zach Collins with 3:54 left. Kerr reacted angrily, throwing his clipboard to court and yelling at the officials before he was ejected.
Dwyane Wade, meanwhile, scored 22 points in what figures to be his final game on the court where he won his first championship, helping Miami beat Dallas, 112-101.
The 37-year-old who has already said this is his final season was a little better despite one of the stronger games of the season for Dirk Nowitzki, his two-time NBA Finals foe whose record 21st season with the same franchise has the feel of an unofficial farewell tour.
Image credits: AP