Corey Brewer scores 51 points in Timberwolves’ 112-110 win over Rockets

MINNEAPOLIS — Corey Brewer scored a career-high 51 points and Gorgui Dieng hit a short jumper with 4.6 seconds to play to give the short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves a 112-110 victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday night.

Brewer also had six steals and made 19 of 30 shots in 45 minutes, easily surpassing his previous career high of 29 points. He became the fifth player this season to score 50 points, and the Wolves had a staggering 39 points in transition against Houston’s woeful defense.

James Harden hit a 3-pointer with 17 seconds to go that tied it at 110, but the rookie Dieng calmly knocked down the game-winner for the Wolves, who were missing All-Star Kevin Love with a hyperextended right elbow.

Harden had 33 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds for the Rockets, who entered the night just 1 1/2 games ahead of Portland for the fourth seed in the Western Conference and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

“We have no choice now,” Harden said. “Three games to go, we’re trying to lock in home court advantage and we just keep letting games slip away.”

Brewer scored in every way imaginable, ripping a Houston defense missing its two defensive leaders — Dwight Howard and Patrick Beverley — for the eighth straight game. He hit jumpers, runners, dunks, free throws and even added a heave from beyond half-court to beat the halftime buzzer.

“I don’t think they knew what to do with him,” Wolves coach Rick Adelman said. “We didn’t know what to do with him, either.”

He eclipsed 50 with a pair of free throws with 1:43 to play that gave Minnesota a 105-103 lead. He joined Kevin Durant (twice), LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Terrence Ross in the 50-point club for this season.

“I want to watch it again and see if he really scored 51,” Ricky Rubio said.

Dante Cunningham had 20 points and 13 rebounds for a Wolves team that was also missing Nikola Pekovic (right foot), Kevin Martin (right heel), Chase Budinger (right ankle) and Shabazz Muhammad (right knee). Rubio had 16 points and 10 assists and Dieng added 12 points and 20 rebounds.

Chandler Parsons had 27 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Rockets.