PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* NBA Total of the Day >> 22-14-2 NBA Run!
(NBA) Houston vs. Minnesota,
Total: 219.00 | -110.00 Over
Result: Loss
Total: 219.00 | -110.00 Over
Result: Loss
The set-up: The Houston Rockets beat the Charlotte Hornets 121-114 last night, for the team's ninth consecutive win. Houston is 20-2 its last 22 and now only the 33-6 Warriors and 30-8 Spurs own better records in the entire NBA. Minnesota gets set to host the Rockets but at just 12-26 on the season, few teams have been as a big a disappointment as the Timberwolves.
Houston: Harden scored 40 points with 15 rebounds and 10 assists (his second straight triple-double and 11th of the season) to become just the third player since the 1985-86 season to record back-to-back games with a triple-double and 40 points, according to STATS, LLC. Last night's effort also made him just the fourth player in NBA history with at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in back-to-back games, as he'll come into Minnesota averaging 28.5-8.4-11.9 on the season. The Rockets typically have little trouble with Minnesota but the Timberwolves gave Houston a battle back on Dec. 17 before collapsing late in regulation and succumbing 111-109 in overtime. That was Houston's eighth straight win over Minnesota and its 12th time in its last 13 meetings with the T-wolves.
Minnesota: The T-wolves have a terrific young trio in Wiggins (21.9 & 4.2), Towns (21.7 & 11.6) and LaVine (20.4) but the team's record just doesn't reflect the team's talent level. Minnesota has 12 losses this season when leading by double-digits and led by 12 points with 2:19 left in the game the last time it met Houston. However, the Rockets closed regulation on a 14-2 run, then won in OT. Minnesota saw a 21-point lead vanish at home against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday but never lost the lead and won 101-92, to snap a four-game losing streak.
The pick: Some bad news for Minnesota is that LaVine left Monday's game with a hip contusion and is listed as questionable (LaVine scored 24 points in the previous matchup with the Rockets). Tyus Jones (3.3 PPG in about 10 1/2 minutes of PT) entered Monday when LaVine left the game and scored seven points in 11 minutes. The little-used, second-year guard could see more playing time if LaVine is out. The Timberwolves are still searching to find a way to keep from slipping in the second half of games but with that December game at home vs. the Rockets still fresh in their minds, I expect a big effort from Minnesota, while catching Houston in a back-to-back situation. The Under is a 10* play.
Houston: Harden scored 40 points with 15 rebounds and 10 assists (his second straight triple-double and 11th of the season) to become just the third player since the 1985-86 season to record back-to-back games with a triple-double and 40 points, according to STATS, LLC. Last night's effort also made him just the fourth player in NBA history with at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in back-to-back games, as he'll come into Minnesota averaging 28.5-8.4-11.9 on the season. The Rockets typically have little trouble with Minnesota but the Timberwolves gave Houston a battle back on Dec. 17 before collapsing late in regulation and succumbing 111-109 in overtime. That was Houston's eighth straight win over Minnesota and its 12th time in its last 13 meetings with the T-wolves.
Minnesota: The T-wolves have a terrific young trio in Wiggins (21.9 & 4.2), Towns (21.7 & 11.6) and LaVine (20.4) but the team's record just doesn't reflect the team's talent level. Minnesota has 12 losses this season when leading by double-digits and led by 12 points with 2:19 left in the game the last time it met Houston. However, the Rockets closed regulation on a 14-2 run, then won in OT. Minnesota saw a 21-point lead vanish at home against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday but never lost the lead and won 101-92, to snap a four-game losing streak.
The pick: Some bad news for Minnesota is that LaVine left Monday's game with a hip contusion and is listed as questionable (LaVine scored 24 points in the previous matchup with the Rockets). Tyus Jones (3.3 PPG in about 10 1/2 minutes of PT) entered Monday when LaVine left the game and scored seven points in 11 minutes. The little-used, second-year guard could see more playing time if LaVine is out. The Timberwolves are still searching to find a way to keep from slipping in the second half of games but with that December game at home vs. the Rockets still fresh in their minds, I expect a big effort from Minnesota, while catching Houston in a back-to-back situation. The Under is a 10* play.
