Houston Rockets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves game preview

Houston Rockets Tickets

There's a few kinds of teams when it comes to playing the Rockets and how they match up. You've got your young, undisciplined teams (like Washington and Sacramento) that can beat you but shouldn't. There's the older teams that are disciplined (the Nuggets and Spurs) that can beat you most nights and do. Then there's a glut in the middle. The Timberwolves are a middle team.

They've got experience all around. They've got a disciplined system and coach. In neither of the first two meetings were the Rockets able to race away from the Wolves. The Rockets won a gritty game on a back-to-back against them on December 26, then lost probably their worst game of the season when the Wolves beat the Rockets despite missing like 16 players.

Tonight, the Rockets finally get Adelman and his Wolves in Houston.

Tip-off at 7pm CST.

PG: Jeremy Lin vs. Ricky Rubio

Rubio's been on a tear of late, grabbing a triple-double against the Spurs then going 21/10/6 against the stingy Pacers. He's the T-Wolves' most dangerous weapon right now.

Advantage: Minnesota

SG: James Harden vs. Luke Ridnour

Harden hasn't played particularly well in either of the previous matchups. He hit two big runners/layups late the first time to win the game, but had shot poorly before that. In the second matchup he was awful.

He has to get loose tonight in order for the Rockets to run away with this one.

Advantage: Houston

SF: Chandler Parsons vs. Mickael Gelabale

Gelabale doesn't play much, but he isn't a bad player.

Parsons plays a lot, and he is a good player.

Advantage: Houston

PF: Donatas Motiejunas vs. Derrick Williams

You know, until Derrick Rose I had never seen someone with the named spelled like that. It was usually "Derek."

Maybe I just don't have enough friends.

Advantage: Even

C: Omer Asik vs. Greg Stiemsma

Stiemsma will not be out-hustled by Asik, but Asik is bigger and needs to control the paint and the glass.

Advantage: Houston

Bench:

The T-Wolves have Chris Johnson, Dante Cunningham, Alexy Shved, and J.J. Barea

The Rockets have Patrick Beverley, Carlos Delfino, Thomas Robinson, Greg Smith and Francisco Garcia

Advantage: Houston

Prediction: The Rockets don't mess around, this game is over by the end of the third quarter. Rockets by 20.