Rockets at Timberwolves Game Thread

Rockets at Wolves
7:00 pm CST
FS North

Here are some players expected to miss tonight's game:

Rockets:

Patrick Beverly
Terrence Jones
Dwight Howard
Isaiah Canaan (questionable)

A small forward away from a pretty good lineup

Wolves

Ricky Rubio
Kevin Martin
Nikola Pekovic
Ronny Turiaf
Mo Williams (questionable)
Shabazz Muhammad (questionable)

You could actually do some things with that group.

Anywho, guys in Wolves and Rockets uniforms will be playing an NBA game tonight at Target Center, and despite both teams suffering serious injury woes, these are two teams on vastly different trajectories. Despite inconsistent lineups and availability, the Rockets are 14-4 to start the season and coming off one of their most impressive wins--beating the Grizzlies at home on Wednesday night.

James Harden continues to be their driving force, putting up big numbers in all offensive categories despite relatively pedestrian shooting from beyond the arc. Trevor Ariza has fit seamlessly into the Chandler Parsons role, and the Rockets are a squad to contend with even with players missing. If they are able to get everyone healthy it's going to be impressive, as they have really ramped up their defense this year after struggling on that end last season.

The Rockets, as usual, lead the league in three pointers made and attempted, and went 13-28 from three against the Wolves in Mexico City last month. Given that the Wolves don't take threes themselves, it puts immense pressure on them to try to keep up somehow. Here's a prop bet: Rockets made 3s vs. Wolves attempted 3s.

The Wolves are 4-13 and coming off a horrific loss to the 76ers in a game that could only charitably be called basketball. Things have nose dived in the face of injury, but what's more frustrating is that nobody seems to know what to do out there. On both ends of the court, they have no balance, no spacing, no help, and just general confusion.

Injuries don't help, but that's on either the personnel guy for not putting together a roster of guys capable of understanding and executing, and/or the coach for not using good tactics or teaching effectively. I wish I knew which of those guys to blame.

Anyway, I actually expect a decent bounce back effort tonight, though not a win, after the team was embarrassed on Wednesday. They must keep the Rockets off the offensive glass and take advantage of turnovers. If Mo Williams doesn't play, however, the offense might be even worse. If that's possible.

Expected lineups

Rockets

Jason Terry
James Harden
Trevor Ariza
Donatas Motiejunas
Tarik Black

Wolves

Zach LaVine
Corey Brewer
Andrew Wiggins
Thad Young
Gorgui Dieng

Here's a link to our blogging buddies over at The Dream Shake. Be excellent.

No no and no.

Enjoy the game. Chat here. Go Wolves.