Minnesota Timberwolves vs Houston Rockets, NBA 2024-25 Season, Today Match Prediction

Teams Preview

Minnesota Timberwolves Preview

Minnesota has been picking up pace in recent games. With 10 wins and 6 losses in January, they recorded their best month so far this season. The Minnesota team has been very inconsistent this season. At present they have a record of 27-23, putting them in contest for the playins, but with recent strides, they will be hoping to make it as the top 6 teams come playoffs. They are the 7th seeded team in the Western Conference, with just two and a half games behind the LA Clippers for the 6th seed. Minnesota will be on the hunt to turn around their fortunes in the coming weeks.

The Timberwolves have been a poor side on the offensive side of things averaging 14.6 turnovers a game and average just 111.1 points per game which is the 21st best record in the league and does not reflect a great offensive look for a side hosting the likes of Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle. Although Anthony Edward leads the NBA in 3PM this season, with him playing a much different style of basketball this season, emphasising more on 3 pointers rather than his natural style, it has hurt the likes of Naz Reid, the reigning sixth man of the year, resulting in poor offensive statistics. Anthony Edwards, recently named an all star, is averaging 26.5 points per game on 44.6% field goal percent. He records 42% from the 3-point line on 9.8 three point attempts per game. Defensively, the Timberwolves have been pretty sound. They are averaging the fourth-highest opposition points per game average of 108, with only the Oklahoma Thunder, LA Clippers and the Houston Rockets boasting a better defense in the Western Conference. The team will be high on confidence and looking for the win as they have two games at home.

Donte DiVencenzo and Julius Randle are the two players injured from the Timberwolves roster. Mike Conley,  Anthony Edwards, Jaden Mcdaniels, Alexander Walker in place of Julies Randle and Rudy Gobert make up the starting five for the Timberwolves.

Houston Rockets Preview

For the first time this season, the Houston Rockets have lost three games in a row, against the likes of Memphis, and the two New York based teams. After a pretty decent December they went  11-4 in January, but have struggled to win a game in February. The Rockets have lost their 2nd seed in a very packed Western Conference to the Tennessee team, the Memphis Grizzlies. Houston records 32-17 placing them 3rd in the Western Conference, with the Denver Nuggets slowly catching up to them. They are 2nd in the Southwest Division with Memphis taking the 1st place. 

Conceding only 108.8 points per game so far, the Rockets have the sixth-best defense in the league and also rank first in rebounds collected with a figure of 48 rebounds per game. Offensively the side has the 13th-best record in the league with a 113.7 point per game but are placed 30th when it comes to assists, assisting just 22.5 assists a game. The team also shoots a respectable 51.4% from the 2-point mark while averaging a figure of 34.2% from beyond the arch. Although Jalen Green is the leading man for the franchise with an average score of 21.5 points per game, it's Alperen Sengun who is currently averaging 19.1 points per game along with 10.4 boards and 5 assists, maintains the tempo of the game.

In terms of injuries, Jabari Smith is out with a broken left hand and will be re-evaluated in 4-6 weeks. Tari Eason and Fred VanVleet are the other players sidelined. Their starting lineup should feature Aaron Holiday and Jalen Green as their two guards, Dillon Brooks as the small forward and Amen Thompson should feature as the power forwards while Sengun is the expected centre for the team. 

Minnesota Timberwolves vs Houston Rockets Starting Lineups