The Houston Rockets (39-41) will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves (28-52) on Monday night at Target Center in Minneapolis.
The Rockets are fighting for their playoff lives with only two games left in the regular season. They currently sit one game behind the Jazz for the eighth and final spot in the Western Conference Playoffs. The Jazz finish off the season against the Mavericks and the cellar-dwelling Lakers, so it's safe to assume Houston will have to win out to even contend for the final spot. They helped their case on Sunday by snapping a two-game losing streak, defeating the Lakers 130-110. James Harden once again carried the team, posting 40 points (14-31 FG, 6-14 3Pt, 6-8 FT), 13 assists, four rebounds, and four steals in 41 minutes. The good news for Houston is they have beaten the Timberwolves in 10 of the last 11 games, including six in row.
The Timberwolves have quietly been playing some of their basketball of the year as the regular season winds down. They are on a three-game win streak, which they have not done since early November. During the win streak they have managed to knock of two playoff teams in the Western Conference in the Warriors and Trail Blazers. In Saturday's 106-105 win over the Blazers, Karl-Anthony Towns proved why he has been the best rookie in the league this year. Towns posted 27 points (13-20 FG, 1-2 FT), nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks over 38 minutes, including a last-second bucket that gave the Timberwolves the lead with just over a second left. Andrew Wiggins poured in 23 points (9-22 FG, 5-6 FT) and added three rebounds and an assist over 32 minutes. While the postseason is out of sight for the Timberwolves, they still have the opportunity to play spoiler to the Rockets.
