HOUSTON -- The Houston Rockets were trailing Minnesota by 10 points early in the second quarter on Thursday night when a very unhappy Kevin McHale called a timeout hoping to help his team get on track. Billy McKinney Blue Jays Jersey . James Harden wasnt worried and told his coach as much. "He was fired up but I told him: Its OK. Were going to be all right," Harden said. And they were. Houston scored 17 straight points after that timeout, led by 10 from Harden, to take the lead and roll to an easy 129-106 win. "We werent playing very well," McHale said. "So I got into them a little bit and they responded." Harden had 28 points with eight assists, Donatas Motiejunas added a career-best 20 points and Chandler Parsons had 19 points for Houston. Houston never trailed after the 17-0 run and padded the advantage with another big run to start the third quarter. It was Houstons second straight game without Dwight Howard, who sat out with a strained left ankle. Omer Asik started in his place and filled in ably with a season-high-tying 12 points as the Rockets won for the seventh time in 10 games. "Obviously we want Dwight back as soon as possible," Parsons said. "But Omer is so good you dont miss much out there on the floor ... we have a real luxury having both of those guys down there." Kevin Love had 29 points and rookie Gorgui Dieng 22 points and 21 rebounds, which were both career-highs. He has had a double-double in each of his three starts, which have come in the last three games. "In the first quarter we came out pretty good," Minnesota coach Rick Adelman said. "Then they had that run on us and it really wasnt a game from that point on. We werent scoring at all and we werent getting back and they seemed to have their way." Ricky Rubio had five points, eight assists and two rebounds for Minnesota a night after posting his third career triple-double with 22 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds in a 123-122 overtime win at Dallas. "We came off an overtime game and we just didnt seem to have energy," Love said. "These are the dog days where youre trying to give everything youve got and sometimes its just not good enough." Houston led by 10 at halftime and opened the third quarter with a 16-7 spurt to extend the lead to 80-61 with about 8 1/2 minutes left in the quarter. Harden, who finished with six 3s, and Patrick Beverley both made 3-pointers during that run and Asik had seven points with a pair of dunks. Love hit a 3-pointer after that before Terrence Jones made four quick points to push the lead to 84-64. Luc Mbah a Moute went up for a dunk later in the quarter, but it was blocked by Asik, drawing oohs from the crowd when it happened live and again when it was replayed on the jumbotron. Asik finished with four blocks. Houston was up by 21 soon after that when the Timberwolves cut into the lead with an 8-0 run thanks to two 3-pointers by Love to make it 89-76. The Rockets led by 98-82 entering the fourth quarter. Jones had 10 points and Beverley had 14 as all five Rockets starters scored in double digits. "When we move the basketball like that, everyone is going to score," Harden said. "It gives each and every guy confidence to make that right pass and to shoot the basketball. So, when we play like that, its tough to beat us." The lead was 16 midway through the fourth quarter when the Rockets went on another run -- this one 8-3 -- to make it 118-97. Harden scored the last five points in that span before sitting down for the night. Minnesota got within five points late in the second quarter, but the Rockets used a 9-4 run, capped by another 3 from Harden, to end the half up 64-54. NOTES: Minnesota C Nikola Pekovic didnt play for the third straight game because of a sore right ankle. ... Houston Texans running back Arian Foster and 2012 Heisman Trophy winner and former A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel sat together in seats behind the Rockets bench. ... Dieng is the sixth player since the NBA began tracking starts in 1970 to have at least 20 points and 20 rebounds within his first three career starts. Devon Travis Blue Jays Jersey . James Jones got his turn Sunday. And the lift he brought, combined with the expected playoff showings from LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, have the Heat off and running in these playoffs. Roger Clemens Jersey . The freestyle skier from Calgary finished sixth in the qualification round with a total of 82.00 points. Groenewoud won a silver medal at the X Games last month, just over five weeks after undergoing double knee surgery. http://www.bluejaysonline.com/blue-jays-randal-grichuk-jersey/ .com) - Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Edwin Encarnacion has been named the American League Player of the Week for the period ending May 11.Napoli will not sell striker Gonzalo Higuain for anything less than his £78.5m release clause, according to Sky sources. Sky in Italy say Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis spoke to Juventus president Andrea Agnelli on Monday at a meeting of Serie A club officials.Higuain has a £78.5m (94m euros) release clause in his contract, a figure Juventus are willing to meet by offering cash as well as players. Gonzalo Higuain is reportedly keen on a move to Juventus If Napoli reject the players offered, it is understood they would allow the Italian champions to pay the release clause over a two-year period.Sky in Italy understand the players Napoli would consider are SSimone Zaza, Roberto Pereyra, Stefano Sturaro and Daniel Rugani. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Blue Jays Jersey. Transfer Centre All the very latest news at your fingertips. Check it out Napoli are also aware of interest in Higuain from Arsenal, but there has been no contact from the Gunners over a deal for the 28-year-old.Higuain, who joined Napoli from Real Madrid in 2013, has two years remaining on his contract in Naples. He ended the 2015/16 season as the top scorer in Serie A with 36 goals. Also See: Transfer Centre Latest transfer news Transfer betting Paper Talk ' ' '