MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 16 (Ticker) -- The Houston Rockets have quickly built a reputation as a good defensive team. But they were no match for hot-shooting Sam Cassell. Cassell scored 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting to lift the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 92-75 victory over the Rockets, who have lost three straight games. "Every win is big," Cassell said. "We're trying to gain as much momentum as possible." Houston entered the game third in points allowed (84.2) and first in opponents' field-goal percentage (39.1) but had no answer for Cassell, the point guard and former Rocket. Cassell also shot well in Monday's game against Boston, scoring 27 points on 12 -of-17 from the field. He is shooting 57 percent in his past six games. "Cassell shoots the mid-range jumper contested better than anyone I've ever seen," Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said. "You think it's going to get blocked , then he leans back and creates more space." "I can't tell you my secrets," Cassell said when asked about his shooting. "I work hard." Kevin Garnett was just as effective in the paint with 19 points, 13 rebounds and 6 blocked shots to help Minnesota improve to 5-5 at home. "Garnett does something new every game," Saunders said. "That's what great players do. They invent something new during the course of the game." Steve Francis scored 16 points and Jimmy Jackson added 12 for the Rockets. The Timberwolves led most of the way, using a 12-1 run to build a 67-45 cushion with 3:49 left in the third quarter. "They just played a whole lot harder than we did tonight," Rockets forward Maurice Taylor said. "It looked like we came out ready to play, then we had a major dropoff when the ball wasn't going in the basket." Minnesota was the better defensive team, holding Houston to 39 percent (28-of- 72) while shooting 48 percent (37-of-77) with 26 assists. "Our defense was very solid," Saunders said. "Against the No. 1 defensive team in the league, we shot 50 percent with the exception of the last three minutes. Overall, it was a pretty solid game." --

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