JULIUS Randle scored 26 points on 9-for-18 shooting and the Minnesota Timberwolves rallied for a 123-104 win over the Detroit Pistons in a game that featured a physical fracas Sunday (Monday in Manila) in Minneapolis.
Anthony Edwards added 25 points and Rudy Gobert posted 19 points and a season-high 25 rebounds for the Timberwolves. Malik Beasley scored 27 to lead the Pistons, Tim Hardaway Jr. finished with 20 points and Jalen Duren notched 13 points and 11 boards.
The game was marred by a skirmish in the second quarter that led to seven ejections. The sequence started when Pistons guard Ron Holland II fouled Timberwolves forward Naz Reid on a layup attempt. Reid took exception to the foul and shook his finger in Holland’s face.
A melee ensued after Donte DiVincenzo came to support Reid and Holland shoved him. DiVincenzo grabbed Holland and yanked him to the ground, and within moments, a large crowd of players and coaches formed beyond the baseline as both teams continued grabbing and shoving.
Reid, DiVincenzo and assistant coach Pablo Prigioni were ejected for Minnesota. Holland, Isaiah Stewart, Marcus Sasser and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff were ejected for Detroit.
In other games, it was the Rockets 148, Suns 109; Cavaliers 127, Clippers 122; Knicks 110, Blazers 93; Hawks 145, Bucks 124; Warriors 148, Spurs 106; Raptors 127, Sixers 109; and Pelicans 94, Hornets 94.
Rockets 148, Suns 109
Jalen Green recorded 33 points, Alperen Sengun added 16 points and nine rebounds, and Houston ran away with the road win over Phoenix.
Eight players scored in double figures for the Rockets, including Amen Thompson, who went for 12 points, 10 boards and nine assists. Fred VanVleet had 13 points and seven assists for Houston, which won its third straight.
Devin Booker paced the Suns with 28 points. Kevin Durant had 11 to go along with seven rebounds before he exited in the third quarter after spraining his ankle in a collision with Jabari Smith Jr.’s foot. Durant will undergo an MRI on Monday, per Phoenix coach Mike Budenholzer. Monte Morris finished with 10 points.
