In a battle of the NBA’s two worst teams of the 2020-21 season by record, the Minnesota Timberwolves (10-34) will host the Houston Rockets (12-31) on Friday and Saturday nights in Minneapolis.
With veteran guard Victor Oladipo traded, the Rockets no longer have any player who automatically sits out for planned maintenance in half of all back-to-backs. Thus, barring injuries, the lineup and rotation used by head coach Stephen Silas could be similar in both games.
Newcomers Avery Bradley and Kelly Olynyk are unlikely to play in either game, since they will be reporting to Houston — rather than Minneapolis — to complete physicals related to the trade. Thus, their debuts are more likely to come when the Rockets host Memphis on Monday.
Given Houston’s decision to trade Oladipo at Thursday’s deadline without making any marquee acquisition, it’s clear that maximizing wins over the remainder of this season isn’t a huge priority. In many respects, winning could actually be a hindrance to their most obvious goal.
Odds the Rockets keep their first rounder
1-3: 52.1%
4: 48.1%
5: 42.1%
6: 37.2%
7: 31.9%
8: 23.5%— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) March 25, 2021
With that in mind, the best opportunity for the Rockets to maximize their odds of gaining a high draft pick in the offseason is if they finish with one of the league’s three-worst records. (If Houston’s pick is not in the draft’s top four, they would lose it to Oklahoma City as part of the ill-fated Chris Paul for Russell Westbrook swap.)
Considering that Minnesota is also in the running for those top draft-lottery percentages, the three regular-season games between the Rockets and Wolves could prove pivotal. Two of those three will take place over a span of roughly 24 hours at Target Center this weekend.
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The lines, courtesy of BetMGM
- Point spread: Rockets +3.5 (-105), Timberwolves -3.5 (-115)
- Moneyline: Rockets +140/Timberwolves -165
- Over-under: 228.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
- Player O/U Scoring Props: Karl-Anthony Towns 25.5 (-115 O, -110 U), Anthony Edwards 22.5 (-115 O, -110 U), Ricky Rubio 11.5 (+100 O, -130 U); Houston TBD
Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, MI, NV, NJ, PA, TN, and WV at BetMGM.
Minnesota’s probable starters are Ricky Rubio, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Karl-Anthony Towns. Meanwhile, Houston is expected to start John Wall, Sterling Brown, Jae’Sean Tate, Danuel House Jr., and Christian Wood for a third straight game.
As expected, Eric Gordon (groin), David Nwaba (wrist) and Dante Exum (calf) remain out with longer-term injuries, while reserve guard Kevin Porter Jr. is questionable with right quad soreness.
The Timberwolves will be without D’Angelo Russell (left knee surgery), Malik Beasley (league suspension), and Josh Okogie (health and safety protocols). Jordan McLaughlin is questionable due to conditioning issues following his health and safety protocols stint.
Advice and prediction
The Rockets enter with 21 losses in their last 22 games, whereas the Timberwolves have actually won three of their last eight. It’s not great, but by comparison, it’s “better.” Houston also has a more veteran-laden roster than Minnesota, which could make the team’s deadline move to offload Oladipo a bit of an emotional downer in the locker room.
Take the home team.
Prediction: 115-107, Timberwolves
Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.
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