Sports

 
                === Harden rallies Rockets over Timberwolves ===
 
 Houston,  TX (Sports Network) - James Harden scored 25 of his 37 points in the
 second  half to  help the  Houston Rockets  overcome a  20-point third-quarter
 deficit and take a 108-100 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.
 
 Harden  was 3-for-4 from  beyond the arc and sank 12-of-13 from the free throw
 line  over  the final  two frames. Jeremy  Lin chipped in  24 points and eight
 assists to the win.
 
 Minnesota  was in control  late in the second quarter, but was outscored 69-43
 in  the  second half.  Derrick Williams and  J.J. Barea each  scored 19 in the
 defeat, the T'Wolves 15th in their last 16 road games.
 
 "We  just  didn't play well in  the second half," said Timberwolves coach Rick
 Adelman. "They got control of the game and (James) Harden got to the basket on
 us and took control of the game."
 
 Just  after the  midway  point of  the second  period,  Barea's 3-pointer  and
 ensuing  3-point  play sparked a 16-4  run that sent the Timberwolves into the
 locker  room with a  57-39 lead. Minnesota went ahead by 20 on Greg Stiemsma's
 jump shot to open the third quarter.
 
 However,  Harden began  to  heat up,  with  his third  triple  of the  quarter
 bringing  the  Rockets within  71-65 at  the 4:03  mark.
 
 "He's  a tough kid  because his foot is bothering him. He's a tough kid," said
 Rockets  coach Kevin  McHale. "He's very, very  skilled. He got to the ball 18
 times  tonight  and just basically willed  us for awhile in that third quarter
 and made some big shots and then everybody else got going."
 
 Lin  then  canned a  3-pointer  and  tallied  seven  of Houston's  final  nine
 points to keep them within six, 80-74, heading into the fourth.
 
 The  Rockets then  took the lead at  84-82 following a dunk by Greg Smith with
 8:16  left.  Barea knocked down a  3-pointer on the ensuing possession to give
 the T'Wolves the lead back, but it would be their last.
 
 Houston  responded with a 13-3 push, with Lin's triple with 5:30 left breaking
 an  86-86 tie and Smith later throwing down a pair of dunks before four Harden
 free throws gave the Rockets a nine-point edge with 3:08 remaining.
 
 The Timberwolves never came closer than seven points the rest of the way.
 
                                   Game Notes
 
 Houston has won eight of its last nine home games ... The Timberwolves fell to
 7-25 on the road this season ... Luke Ridnour and Mickael Gelabale each scored
 10  points for Minnesota ... The Rockets were 25-for-31 at the free throw line
 ...  The Rockets  broke a  franchise record  for most  3-pointers in  a single
 season, set during the 2006-07 season.
 
 
 
 
 03/16 00:46:36 ET