1st quarter report
The Timberwolves and Rockets showed up to the game, but their offenses did not. Sitting at 22-21, the Timberwolves appear to be the better team, but there are still three quarters to play.
The Timberwolves entered the competition with extra motivation after the defeat they suffered in the last meeting between these two teams. We’ll see if they are able to flip the script or if it will just be more of the same.
Who’s playing
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Houston Rockets
Current records: Minnesota 15-14, Houston 21-9
How to watch
- When: Friday, December 27, 2024 at 8 p.m. ET
- Or: Toyota Center – Houston, TX
- TV: FanDuel SN – Nord Plus
- Follow: CBS Sports app
- Online broadcast: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.)
- Ticket cost: $50.00
What you need to know
The Timberwolves are 8-2 against the Rockets since January 2022, and they will have a chance to extend that success on Friday. The Minnesota Timberwolves will stay on the road to face the Houston Rockets at 8 p.m. ET at the Toyota Center. The Rockets are favored, but considering the odds didn’t stop the Timberwolves in their last game, the team may have another surprise up their sleeve.
The Timberwolves are headed into this one after bettors pegged last week’s low/low at 222.5, but even that proved too high. They managed a 105-99 victory over the Mavericks on Wednesday. The victory was a much-needed relief for Minnesota as it ended their three-game losing streak.
The Timberwolves’ success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Julius Randle led the charge by posting a double-double with 23 points and ten rebounds. The dominant performance also gave Randle a new career high in assists (eight).
Meanwhile, the Rockets entered Thursday’s contest with three straight wins (a stretch in which they outscored their opponents by an average of 12.3 points) and came away with even more momentum. They earned a comfortable 128-111 victory over New Orleans. Houston pushed the score to 102-74 late in the third, a deficit that New Orleans reduced but never truly recovered from.
The Rockets’ victory was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Jalen Green, who went 6 of 11 from beyond the arc en route to 30 points plus two steals. Green struggled to find his footing against the Hornets on Monday, so this was a step in the right direction. Cam Whitmore was another key player, going 9 of 16 on his way to 27 points.
Even though they won, the Rockets struggled to work together and finished the game with just 19 assists. They were crushed by their opponents in this department as the Pelicans posted 29.
Minnesota now has a winning record of 15-14. As for Houston, they’ve been on a roll lately: They’ve won six of their last seven games, which has been a nice improvement to their 21-9 record this season.
Both have pleased fans and bettors in their last matches by winning and covering the gap. As for their next game, the Rockets should win a close contest, except for the buzzers. Those brave souls putting their money on Minnesota ATS are confident in an upset since their 12-16 ATS record can’t hold up against Houston’s 19-11 record.
The Timberwolves fell short against the Rockets in their previous meeting in November, losing 117-111. Can the Timberwolves avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We’ll know soon enough.
Odds
Houston is slightly favorite with 1 point against Minnesota, according to the latest NBA Odds.
The line on this game has moved a bit since it opened, as it started with the Timberwolves as 1-point favorites.
The over/under is 213.5 points.
See NBA Pick for every game, including this one, from SportsLine’s advanced computer model. Get Picks Now.
History of the series
Minnesota has won 8 of its last 10 games against Houston.
- November 26, 2024 – Houston 117 against. Minnesota 111
- April 02, 2024 – Minnesota 113 against. Houston 106
- February 4, 2024 – Minnesota 111 vs. Houston 90
- January 5, 2024 – Minnesota 122 against. Houston 95
- January 23, 2023 – Houston 119 against. Minnesota 114
- January 21, 2023 – Minnesota 113 against. Houston 104
- January 8, 2023 – Minnesota 104 vs. Houston 96
- November 5, 2022 – Minnesota 129 against. Houston 117
- April 3, 2022 – Minnesota 139 vs. Houston 132
- January 9, 2022 – Minnesota 141 vs. Houston 123
