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Sorry that today's preview won't be a full one. My pediatrics clerkship is catching up to me.
Two great things going for Houston tonight:
1. The Timberwolves are coming into tonight's game after playing last night in Dallas.
2. The Timberwolves did win that game, but needed overtime to do it.
One bad thing going against Houston tonight:
1. Dwight Howard will be out tonight.
One pretty good thing going for Houston tonight:
1. The Rockets didn't trade Omer Asik.
At first, I thought the Dwight Howard injury was an "injury." I figured it was either McHale making up an excuse to rest Howard or a nagging little injury that Dwight could play through but wouldn't need to given the opponent of the night (the Jazz).
Looks like it was the second and then some. Howard's quotes even make it seem like he could play through it (and had been for weeks). A cyst is nothing to mess with, but as long as it was completely drained I think Howard should be able to come back soon at close to 100%.
As for tonight's opponent, the Minnesota Timberwolves are still fighting for a playoff spot. It's easy to look at the standings and say "But they're 5.5 games back with 16 to play." But the Wolves are 7-3 in their last 10 and any win in Dallas is a big deal. This is a team playing really well and looking for a miracle. Their schedule in April is a bear, but if they can get past the Rockets tonight and Phoenix on Sunday they'll probably start to believe that they could shock the NBA.
The Wolves will be without Pekovic, as they have been for several weeks. That partially helps the blow of missing Howard, but the Rockets will still want to attack the basket against Minny's suspect defense and poor bench. Houston will need good performances from their point guards, as well as a classic Chandler Parsons performance, especially after Pump-Fake hasn't shot the ball well of late.
Timberwolves vs Rockets coverage