Rockets Resume Action, Host Timberwolves in Final Meeting
Reset. Anticipated Return. Race Time.
After a much-needed week off due to the All-Star break, the Rockets resume action as they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night. Overall, Houston has lost seven of their last ten games overall. Minnesota is coming off an impressive win at home over the Oklahoma City Thunder right before the break. This is the final matchup between these teams in the regular season. After winning the first game, the Rockets have lost the last two meetings with the Wolves. Houston will try and even the season series up with a victory tonight.
After missing roughly seven weeks, Jabari Smith Jr. will finally be making his long-awaited return to the Rockets lineup tonight. Fred VanVleet remains out with an ankle injury, but it will be interesting to see if head coach Ime Udoka tweaks the opening day starting lineup, as many expect, and placing Bari with the second unit. In Smith Jr’s absence, Amen Thompson has more than earned his way into a starting role on this team. Twin’s now surpassed Jalen Green in many people’s eyes as Houston’s second best player behind Alperen Sengun. And with Thompson’s youth, he hasn’t yet even come close to reaching his true potential.
Other than VanVleet, then Rockets are healthy entering this matchup. And a victory over the Wolves tonight would be huge for this young Houston team that limped into the All-Star break. This game also begins the final stretch as we enter the playoff-push portion of the season. It almost feels like a race, as the Rockets have 27 games remaining in the regular season that will be played over the next 52 days. And unless they completely crash and burn, Houston should be in store for a Play-In spot at worst.
Every matchup with the Wolves this season has been close. The Rockets won the first meeting in overtime on the road before losing the next two matchups in heartbreaking fashion. Houston has struggled without Van Vleet, their leader on the floor. And they’ll be integrating Smith Jr. back into the mix tonight, which hopefully won’t endure any growing pains. Expect another close, heated, and testy battle tonight at Toyota Center between two hungry conference foes eager to climb the standings in the West.
Toyota Center: Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
Minnesota Timberwolves (31-25): White
Houston Rockets (34-21): Red
Tip-Off: 8:30 PM CT
TV: ESPN, Space City Home Network