Alperen Şengün, Rockets Blow 13-Point OT Lead vs. Wolves

Rockets' Historic Overtime Collapse Stuns NBA: What Happened Against the Timberwolves

On March 25, 2026, the Houston Rockets suffered one of the most stunning collapses in their recent history. Leading the Minnesota Timberwolves by 13 points early in overtime at Target Center, the Rockets watched helplessly as everything unraveled in three catastrophic minutes, ultimately losing 110-108. The loss has reignited serious questions about Houston's ability to close out games — and whether Alperen Şengün and company can hold on to a playoff position down the stretch.

Coach Ime Udoka didn't mince words afterward, calling it "the worst" loss of the season. Given the Rockets' record in close games, that's saying something.

The Collapse: A 15-0 Run That Ended Everything

Houston appeared to have the game well in hand. Up 13 points in overtime, the Rockets were positioned to deliver a decisive statement against a direct playoff rival. Then the Timberwolves went on a 15-0 run over the final three minutes of OT — an almost incomprehensible swing that erased the lead entirely and handed Minnesota the two-point victory.

According to The Athletic's game breakdown, the Rockets couldn't string together stops or meaningful offensive possessions when it mattered most. Turnovers, missed assignments, and an inability to inbound the ball cleanly all contributed to a meltdown that has become a defining concern for this Rockets squad.

What made the collapse especially painful: Minnesota and Houston had entered the game tied in the loss column. The stakes couldn't have been higher for playoff seeding in a tight Western Conference race.

Houston's Overtime Problem Is Now Undeniable

The loss against Minnesota wasn't a fluke — it was part of a deeply troubling pattern. The Rockets' overtime record now sits at 1-7, the worst mark in the entire NBA. That number alone tells a damning story about Houston's ability to perform under the most pressurized conditions a regular-season game can produce.

Dig deeper into the close-game numbers and the picture gets worse. The Rockets are 16-18 in games within three points in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime. Since the All-Star break, they've gone just 4-7 in close games — a stretch that has coincided with a critical phase of the playoff race.

For a team with genuine postseason ambitions, an inability to win tight games is the kind of weakness that gets exploited in the playoffs, where every game is essentially a close game by the fourth quarter.

Alperen Şengün's Role in a Critical Stretch Run

Despite the team's late-game struggles, Alperen Şengün has been one of the Rockets' brightest spots. The young Turkish center has been developing into a genuine force, and recent reporting suggests Şengün is shaping up at exactly the right time as Houston heads into the most important games of its season.

Şengün brings a rare skill set to the Rockets' frontcourt — a blend of interior scoring, passing vision, and playmaking ability that few big men his age possess. His ability to create offense from the post and facilitate for teammates makes him a focal point of everything Houston does offensively. When the Rockets are clicking, Şengün is usually at the center of it.

The concern, reflected in the Timberwolves loss, is whether the team around him — and the organizational infrastructure of execution in clutch moments — can match his individual trajectory. Şengün can only do so much when Houston's late-game decision-making breaks down collectively.

A Season of Dramatic Finishes — For Better and Worse

The Rockets' 2025-26 season has been defined by late-game drama. Not all of it has gone against them. Just weeks before the Minnesota collapse, Houston pulled out a win over New Orleans on March 13 after two inexplicable Pelicans turnovers in the final 13 seconds — the kind of game the Rockets probably shouldn't have won but did.

Earlier, Amen Thompson delivered one of the season's most electric moments, hitting a buzzer-beating put-back layup to beat the Miami Heat. That play encapsulated the exciting, unpredictable nature of this Rockets team — capable of breathtaking highs and, as March 25 demonstrated, gut-wrenching lows.

The problem is that surviving thanks to opponent mistakes or buzzer-beaters is not a sustainable formula. The overtime collapse against Minnesota exposed the difference between getting lucky in close games and actually being a disciplined, clutch team.

Playoff Implications: The Western Conference Race Tightens

With the loss, the Rockets dropped to the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference, now trailing the Timberwolves by 1.5 games in the standings. Given that the two teams were tied in the loss column entering the game, the swing is significant — Houston didn't just fail to gain ground, it ceded position to a direct competitor.

The Western Conference playoff race remains extremely tight, and every game from here carries enormous weight. For the Rockets, the remaining schedule is an opportunity to prove the Minnesota collapse was an aberration — or a confirmation that Houston simply isn't ready to compete when games are on the line.

Ime Udoka's challenge is clear: find a rotation, a set of plays, or a level of collective composure that allows this team to execute when the margin for error shrinks to zero. The talent is there, particularly with Şengün continuing to grow. The question is whether the mental and tactical pieces can fall into place before the playoffs begin.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened in the Rockets vs. Timberwolves game on March 25, 2026?

The Houston Rockets blew a 13-point overtime lead against the Minnesota Timberwolves, losing 110-108. Minnesota went on a 15-0 run over the final three minutes of overtime to complete the comeback. It was described by Rockets coach Ime Udoka as the worst loss of the season.

What is the Rockets' overtime record in the 2025-26 season?

Following the loss to Minnesota, the Rockets' overtime record dropped to 1-7 — the worst mark in the NBA for the current season. Their struggles in close-game situations extend beyond overtime, as they are 16-18 in games decided within three points in the final three minutes.

How is Alperen Şengün performing for the Rockets?

Şengün has been one of Houston's most important players and has reportedly been shaping up well heading into the critical final stretch of the regular season. His blend of scoring, passing, and interior presence makes him central to the Rockets' offensive identity, and he is considered a key factor in Houston's playoff push.

Where do the Rockets stand in the Western Conference playoff race?

After the loss to Minnesota, the Rockets hold the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference, trailing the Timberwolves by 1.5 games in the standings. The race remains tight, with the playoff picture still very much in flux heading into the final weeks of the regular season.

Who is Ime Udoka and what did he say about the collapse?

Ime Udoka is the head coach of the Houston Rockets. Following the overtime loss to Minnesota on March 25, 2026, Udoka called the collapse "the worst" loss of the season — a significant statement given the team's history of close-game struggles throughout the year.

Conclusion

The Rockets' overtime meltdown against the Timberwolves on March 25, 2026, is more than just a painful loss — it's a stress test that revealed genuine fault lines in Houston's championship aspirations. Blowing a 13-point overtime lead, surrendering a 15-0 run in the final three minutes, and cementing an NBA-worst 1-7 overtime record are not statistics a contending team can afford to carry into the postseason.

Alperen Şengün's continued development gives Rockets fans legitimate reasons for optimism. His talent is real, his trajectory is encouraging, and the pieces around him have shown flashes of brilliance all season. But brilliance in flashes isn't enough. The stretch run of the 2025-26 season will demand consistency, composure, and the ability to execute when the game is on the line.

For Houston, the next few weeks aren't just about winning games — they're about proving that the Minnesota collapse was a stumble, not a symptom. The Western Conference playoff race leaves no margin for error, and the Rockets know it.