Defensive guru Tom Thibodeau continues to preach defense to his young Timberwolves. Minnesota drops way down in class today after losing 142-130 on the road to the Rockets this past Saturday night. The Rockets are the second-highest team in the league.

However, in their two previous games before the Rockets matchup, the Timberwolves held the Nuggets - the fourth-highest scoring team in the league at 110 points - to 99 points and the Mavericks to 84 points. Dallas was averaging 102.8 points in its prior five games before falling to the Timberwolves.

Minnesota should have an easier defensive task with the Kings no longer having DeMarcus Cousins and with Rudy Gay injured. Those were the Kings' only two consistent respectable scoring threats. The Kings are in major adjustment mode after dismantling their team at the trade deadline with Cousins going to New Orleans. The Kings could only manage just 85 points at home in their last game this past Saturday against Charlotte.

The Kings have gone under in 10 of their last 11 Western Conference games. They aren't going to get into any kind of track meet with the Timberwolves. Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns have been hot for Minnesota, but the team is without its third-best scorer, injured Zach LaVine. So more of the scoring load has fallen on Wiggins and Towns.