Minnesota Timberwolves (31-25, seventh in the Western Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (34-21, fourth in the Western Conference)
Houston; Friday, 9:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Houston hosts Minnesota in a matchup of Western Conference teams.
The Rockets are 20-13 in Western Conference games. Houston is the NBA leader with 14.7 offensive rebounds per game led by Alperen Sengun averaging 3.3.
The Timberwolves are 23-14 in Western Conference play. Minnesota is 8-9 in one-possession games.
The Rockets are shooting 44.6% from the field this season, 1.0 percentage point lower than the 45.6% the Timberwolves allow to opponents. The Timberwolves are shooting 46.0% from the field, 0.6% higher than the 45.4% the Rockets' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Sengun is averaging 18.8 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.9 assists for the Rockets. Jalen Green is averaging 21.4 points and 3.7 assists over the past 10 games.
Naz Reid is scoring 14.5 points per game and averaging 5.6 rebounds for the Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards is averaging 27.5 points and 5.5 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 3-7, averaging 106.2 points, 47.2 rebounds, 22.9 assists, 7.7 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 43.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.5 points per game.
Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 116.8 points, 45.9 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 6.6 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.9 points.
INJURIES: Rockets: Tari Eason: day to day (leg), Fred VanVleet: day to day (ankle), Cody Zeller: out (personal), Jabari Smith Jr.: out (hand).
Timberwolves: Rudy Gobert: day to day (back), Mike Conley: day to day (finger), Donte DiVincenzo: out (toe), Julius Randle: out (groin).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Associated Press
