The game seemed bound to be one of those tests of the Rockets' ability to defend their way to a win. They had done that lately, but their DNA is still filled with a taste for 3-pointers beyond any 3-happy team of the NBA's fire-away era.
When the 3s began to pour in, the Rockets happily rode that long enough to turn half a close game into a 117-102 blowout of the Timberwolves on Sunday, doing it very much their way.
Led by Chris Paul's 6 of 7 3-point shooting as he collected 25 points with 10 assists, the Rockets went 21 of 49 from deep, building a 24-point lead.