by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Jan 23, 2023
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Venue: Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Where to watch: ATTSN-SW, BSN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Timberwolves -6.5
FanDuel: Timberwolves -6.5
BetMGM: Timberwolves -6.5
Caesars: Timberwolves -6.5
Season record
Timberwolves: 24-24
Rockets: 10-36
We’re nearing the halfway mark of the season in the NBA and it’s been quite the ride so far. Al McMordie is cashing hard at 22-15-0 in the last 30 days, while Doc’s Sports has also had a strong run of form as of late at 14-10-0 (+$3,000). If they’ve been killing it as much as they were in the first half, what does the second half have in store? The only way you’re going to find out is by staying locked on bigal.com and following what our champion handicappers are up to heading into the final 41 games. Trust us, you want to know.
Timberwolves - Rockets preview, prediction and analysis
The Minnesota Timberwolves will look to complete the home and home series with the Houston Rockets with a sweep as they travel to Toyota Center to take on a Houston team that is just praying for some sort of good news at this point.
It has been a roller coaster of a week for the Timberwolves at this current state. They started off with a close home loss to the Utah Jazz, then came up four point shy against the Denver Nuggets, currently the best team in the Western Conference right now. But then Minnesota returned home and followed that with a two point victory over the Toronto Raptors and then starting off well with a 113-104 victory over Houston in which Minnesota was eight point favorites.
And when you get a game like you get on Saturday from Anthony Edwards, you are pretty much living your best life. Edwards scored 44 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and also dished 4 assists in 40 minutes to push Minnesota to victory over Houston. Edward shot 17 of 29 from the floor and made eight of 16 from 3 point range, nearly producing half of minnesota's entire three-point barrage.
“We talked yesterday about how important this game was for us, how he needed to set the tone,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “He certainly did that. He was special today, both ends of the floor, really.”
This is about as fun of a time as you can imagine for Edwards at this current point in time period he is basically the guy with Karl-Anthony Towns out indefinitely, and Rudy Gobert also out for an extended period of time. It becomes his show basically and he showed that against Houston. While Minnesota has won four of its last six outright, the Timberwolves are on a run of covering for their last five with the only successful cover as a favorite was that game against Houston in which they covered by one. So clearly things are looking somewhat upright for Minnesota.
As for Houston, what more needs to be said about this team that we don't already know? There was a moment Once Upon a time when The Rockets were reeling off impressive winds in which teams were taking the night off and not playing to their full potential. Since then, Houston has lost nineteen of his last 20 and 13 in a row after losing 2 the Timberwolves the other night. When I say it's bad it's pretty dang bad.
Alperen Sengun had 19 points and 16 rebounds, and Eric Gordon had 16 points, but this team absolutely needs more from Jalen Green, who had just 10 points on 3 of 13 shooting.
“Turnovers were the story of the game,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said. “Twenty-three turnovers in a nine-point game kill you, not to mention 14 missed free throws.”
Prediction
I'm not entirely sure what Houston can actually do in this matchup to pull out a victory. They are at home so there is that slight chance that they could ride a wave of the minimal home crowd that they have to get a victory, but it is very difficult to lose 13 in a row and lose 19 of 20. I don't think there is any realistic hope that Houston can win this game unless someone gets hurt. So if you're going to take this game, hit hard on Minnesota and ride the wave to victory. Timberwolves 112, Rockets 100
Betting trends
Timberwolves are 7-2 ATS in January.
Timberwolves are 42-36 ATS as a favorite the past three seasons.
Rockets are 34-61 ATS at home the past three seasons.
Rockets are 31-54 ATS after failing to cover in 4 or 5 of the last 6 the past 3 seasons.
Timberwolves are 7-2 ATS in January.
Timberwolves are 42-36 ATS as a favorite the past three seasons.
Rockets are 34-61 ATS at home the past three seasons.
Rockets are 31-54 ATS after failing to cover in 4 or 5 of the last 6 the past 3 seasons.
Projected starting lineup
Timberwolves:
PG: D'Angelo Russell
SG: Anthony Edwards
SF: Jaden McDaniels
PF: Kyle Anderson
C: Naz Reid
Rockets:
PG: Jae'Sean Tate
SG: Jalen Green
SF: Eric Gordon
PF: Jabari Smith Jr.
C: Alperen Sengun
Injury report
Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns (calf, out), Rudy Gobert (groin, out)
Rockets: Kevin Porter Jr. (foot, out)
Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns (calf, out), Rudy Gobert (groin, out)
Rockets: Kevin Porter Jr. (foot, out)
Statistical leaders
Timberwolves:
Points: Anthony Edwards -- 24.1
Rebounds: Rudy Gobert -- 11.5
Assists: D'Angelo Russell -- 6.2
Rockets:
Points: Jalen Green -- 21.7
Rebounds: Alperen Sengun -- 9.0
Assists: Kevin Porter Jr. -- 5.6
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this Minnesota Timberwolves - Houston Rockets prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NBA projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
