On another night considering the matchup and how tight the game was, the temptation would have been to give the Timberwolves some credit, maybe a moral victory.
But not in the middle of a losing streak.
Minnesota played the Rockets, a team that had beaten them by a total of 50 points in two previous games this season, tough Friday at Target Center. They were within three points with just under 4 minutes left to play.
But a familiar result: A 131-124 loss that pushed the Wolves (15-30) to their eighth straight loss.
Russell Westbrook scored 15 of his 45 points in the fourth quarter, as the Rockets (27-16) held on for their second straight victory.