The Minnesota Timberwolves (24-24) and Houston Rockets (10-36) will play the second of a home-and-away mini-series. Their last game was Saturday against each other, with the Timberwolves winning 113-104, behind Anthony Edwards scoring a season-high 44-points.
That game was in Minnesota, and this one is played in Houston. The Rockets are currently on a 13-game losing streak, the longest by any team this season, and have not won since the calendars flipped to 2023.
Let’s check the latest NBA news, stats, injury report and NBA lines for Timberwolves vs Rockets. We’ve got plenty of NBA picks for you to consider.
Timberwolves Figuring it Out
This season has not been great for the Timberwolves, with Karl-Anthony Towns going down with an injury in November and Rudy Gobert having less impact than expected. Throw in the odd locker room issues, highlighted by D’Angelo Russell’s reactions to possibly being on the trading block.
However, there is still time for this team to turn things around, and they seem to be taking those steps. They have won seven games in their last 10, and Edwards has played a big part in that. Includes binding game against the Rockets, which also featured three highlight-level dunks, Edwards has averaged 26.3 points per game over the previous eight.
With Gobert sidelined with an injury in the last three games, it has given Edwards clear paths to the rim, which he has taken advantage of. That has been lacking in the Timberwolves’ offense due to Gobert always being parked in the paint.
Russell has also put together two solid games, averaging 24 points and seven assists. He isn’t a pass-first points guard on a team that desperately needs one and is much lower on the offensive pecking order. Without Gobert, he is also allowed to play a little more freely.
Rockets Not Hiding It Anymore
The Houston Rockets seem to have already phoned in the season, keeping one eye on the upcoming draft and the possible generational talents of Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson. But the hope that they would at least be competitive in games to keep the young talent on edge seems to be going out the window.
Besides Eric Gordon, who is still on this team and starting, every player who gets significant minutes has less than four years of NBA experience. The youth of this team is showcased in their league-high 16.9 turnovers per game. Facing the Timberwolves, they committed 23 turnovers and made it worse by not getting back in transition, leading to 30 points.
The lack of growth by last year’s second-overall pick Jalen Green has been surprising. Green has been inefficient in a more prominent role, and his playmaking has not taken the necessary steps. He can still have a big game, like he did with 41 against the Charlotte Hornets, but followed that up with 10 against the Timberwolves.
Alperen Şengün has been the season’s bright spot, averaging 15.2 points and nine rebounds. He has been especially good recently, averaging 19.2 points, 11.2 rebounds, and seven assists over the last six games.
Timberwolves vs Rockets Game Injuries
Timberwolves vs Rockets Head-to-Head
This will be the fourth and final game between the Timberwolves and the Rockets this season. The first three games have been one-sided, with the Timberwolves winning all three, extending their winning streak over the Rockets to seven.
Timberwolves vs Rockets Game Information
- Game: Timberwolves (24-24) vs Rockets (10-36)
- Location: Toyota Center, Houston, TX
- Day/Time: Monday, Jan. 23rd, 8:00 p.m. EST
- Timberwolves vs Rockets Live Stream: NBA Game Pass
Timberwolves vs Rockets Betting Lines
Timberwolves vs Rockets Picks & Prediction
It’s hard to put any faith in the Rockets to win many games for the rest of the season. Even at home, they have a 6-15 record and are 1-9 against the spread in their last 10 games. The Timberwolves seem to have gotten their act together, and games against lesser opponents are must-win to keep this momentum alive.
The Timberwolves had control of the game when they played the Rockets two days ago and should be able to do that again.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are listed at -210 in our Las Vegas NBA lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Timberwolves, you have a chance to win $48. The Houston Rockets is +175, offering a chance to win $175 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Minnesota Timberwolves a 67.74% chance to win, with the Houston Rockets at 36.36%.
Timberwolves vs Rockets Trends
Timberwolves vs Rockets Edge
Timberwolves vs Rockets Results
Timberwolves vs Rockets Game Summary
Rockets vs Timberwolves Previous Game (Jan. 21, 2023)
The Minnesota Timberwolves are in a golden spot to secure a needed win. Their opponent, the Houston Rockets, are struggling mightily. They have lost 12 straight games, with their last win coming on Dec. 26, 2022, against the Chicago Bulls, 133-118.
Since then, Houston is 1-11 against the spread, as any NBA betting expert would pick against them. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves are 7-3 since the turn of the calendar year.
