Rockets Battle Timberwolves in Return to H-Town
Monster Homestand. Seeking the Fifth. Same Recipe.
Fresh off a perfect road trip, the Rockets return home to begin a tough five-game home stretch in the schedule on Friday night. First up is the Minnesota Timberwolves. In the first matchup this season in Minneapolis, an NBA Cup Group Stage game, Houston beat the Wolves in an overtime thriller in one of the Rockets most impressive wins of the entire year.
Minnesota snapped a three-game losing streak with an impressive win in Dallas over the Mavericks on Christmas Day. The Wolves are off to a slower start than most anticipated after their resurgence last season. Minnesota is currently 15-14 on the season, good for ninth place in the crowded Western Conference. The Rockets improved to 21-9 and remain in second place in the West after their dominant win in New Orleans last night.
Houston is seeking their fifth straight win overall as they play a much tougher opponent than any foe they saw during their past road trip. Despite their record, Minnesota seems to be slowly rounding into form. And they still have superstar Anthony Edwards, one of the best players in the NBA period. Rudy Gobert remains a defensive stalwart in the paint, and the Wolves acquired All-Star Julius Randle from the New York Knicks (in exchange for Karl-Anthony Towns) in the offseason.
The Rockets need to be prepared for a tough, physical battle tonight. Minnesota likely remembers that first loss in their house, and the Wolves will be hungry for revenge tonight. Houston also played last night, so Minnesota has the rest advantage as well heading into this matchup. And just like the last two games for the Rockets, Dillon Brooks is out and Tari Eason is listed as questionable for tonight’s matchup.
Regardless who is playing on the court, Houston needs to continue using the same recipe that’s allowed them to cook up four straight wins over the holidays. After a career-high scoring performance last night, expect to see a lot more of Cam Whitmore tonight against a Wolves team with more physicality than any team the Rockets faced on the road. Jae’Sean Tate should also be a factor in this battle of Western Conference foes. With Brooks and Eason both likely out, and this game being the end of a back-to-back for Houston, expect another close and thrilling affair between these up and coming rivals in the Rockets return to Toyota Center on Friday night.
Toyota Center: Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
Minnesota Timberwolves (15-14): Black
Houston Rockets (21-9): “City Edition” White
Tip-Off: 7:00 PM CT
TV: Space City Home Network, NBA League Pass