Aaron Brooks scored a career-high 43 points and Chuck Hayes snagged a career-high 17 rebounds on Wednesday as Houston downed NBA rivals Minnesota 120-114 in triple overtime.
Al Jefferson pulled down a franchise-record 26 rebounds and scored 26 points for the Timberwolves in what was Minnesota’s first ever three-overtime game.
The Rockets led most of the contest, but Corey Brewer knotted the score at 89-89 at the buzzer to end regulation with a shot from half-court.
Trevor Ariza scored 19 points and Shane Battier added 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Rockets, who beat the Timberwolves for the 10th straight time.
Ryan Gomes scored 18 points, Wayne Ellington chipped in 17 and Brewer scored 14 for the Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves rallied from a five-point deficit early in the first overtime, and went ahead 98-96 on a three-pointer by Ellington. Brooks hit two free throws to tie it up again, and both teams missed potential winning shots in the last minute.
Early in the second overtime Jefferson hit two free throws and a hook shot to put the Timberwolves up 102-98.
Ariza hit a jumper from the wing, then converted a three-point play.
Brooks’ free throws put Houston up 105-102, but Ellington tied it again with a three-pointer with 8.4 seconds left.
The Rockets played the third triple-overtime game in team history, and those in the audience to see them pull off the victory included former Rockets Dikembe Mutombo and Steve Francis.
LAKERS 100, MAVERICKS 95
In Dallas, Kobe Bryant nailed the game-winning shot with 28 seconds left, lifting the Los Angeles Lakers to victory over the Dallas Mavericks in a clash of the top two teams in the Western Conference.
Bryant, suffering from a sore back, had only 10 points on 5-of-11 shooting, but Andrew Bynum had 22 points and 11 rebounds to help the Lakers end a three-game road losing streak.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 30 points for the Mavs to become the 34th player in NBA history with 20,000.
NUGGETS 115, MAGIC 97
In Denver, Carmelo Anthony scored 27 points to lead Denver over Orlando. Chauncey Billups added 24 to help the Nuggets open a 1.5-game lead atop the Northwest Division.
SPURS 109, THUNDER 108, OT
In Oklahoma City, rookie DeJuan Blair set new career highs with 28 points and 21 rebounds as the Spurs edged Oklahoma City in overtime.
Richard Jefferson hit the winner. He ended up with the ball after a Spurs play went awry, with Manu Ginobili diving out of bounds to save a pass that bounced off of Antonio McDyess. George Hill passed to Jefferson, who beat the shot clock with a 13-foot jumper in the lane with nine seconds left.
Also on Wednesday, it was:
• Trail Blazers 120, Bucks 108
• Hawks 94, Wizards 82
• Pacers 122, Suns 114
• Hornets 108, Clippers 94
• Heat 115, Warriors 102
• Celtics 111, Nets 87
• Knicks 93, 76ers 92
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