The Rockets could not make their 3s, at least not the way they expect. James Harden could not finish to his standards. The run the Rockets expected to provide the knockout was elusive.
Yet, for three weeks of wins, the Rockets always had another way. In search of one more push past the Timberwolves, the Rockets strayed far from the 3-pointers that dominated in Minnesota and turned to Clint Capela at the rim.
In a matchup with the Timberwolves' All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns, Capela repeatedly cut to openings in the lane or high above, outscoring Minnesota's young star and taking the Rockets to their 11th consecutive win, pulling away, 120-102, in a game much tougher than the fourth-quarter roll indicated.