Likely NBA MVP James Harden scored 44 points on 15-of-24 shooting to lead the Houston Rockets to a 104-101 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves Sunday night. 

The Wolves had the ball with 8 seconds left but Jimmy Butler, battling an apparent right wrist injury, tried a fadeaway from just inside the 3-point line and missed badly to end the game. 

What's worse is that Butler had Jeff Teague wide open to his right for what could've been a game-tying three. 

Butler finished with 13 points on 4-of-11 shooting. 

Karl-Anthony Towns took just 9 shots all game, to which TNT analyst Charles Barkley attributed to the Wolves being "dummies." 

The Rockets lead the best-of-seven series 1-0 with Game 2 at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in Houston.