Game Preview #17: Timberwolves vs. Rockets

The Timberwolves’ NBA Cup hopes are on the line as they head home to take on the Houston Rockets. Will the Wolves turn things around against the Rockets or will they experience a neon green nightmare?

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Houston Rockets
Date: November 26th, 2024
Time: 7:00PM CST
Location: Target Center
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM/Wolves App/iHeart Radio

Timberwolves Reset: A Fresh Start Begins With Houston

After a disappointing first 16 games of the season, it’s time for the Minnesota Timberwolves to hit the reset button. At 8-8, this team isn’t where anyone hoped or expected it would be. Sure, the adjustment period after the Karl-Anthony Towns trade was always going to bring growing pains, but by now, the “gelling” excuse is wearing thin. Sixteen games in, roughly a fifth of the NBA season is in the books, and the Wolves find themselves teetering on the brink of mediocrity. It’s time to figure things out.

Enter Thanksgiving week: a critical stretch for the Timberwolves that could define the direction of their season. They kick things off Tuesday with an NBA Cup showdown against the Houston Rockets at Target Center. After a brutal stumble against the Trail Blazers—a game that was supposed to be the “gimme” of group play—the Wolves have left themselves no margin for error. A loss to Houston or the Clippers later this week, and the Wolves’ shot at advancing to the tournament round of the NBA Cup is all but gone.

So, can they step up when it matters most? Let’s break it down.

Houston Comes In Hot

The Rockets are not the punchline they were last season. They’ve come out swinging, riding a scorching November that included a five-game win streak. But lately, they’ve shown cracks. Their own back-to-back against the Blazers exposed some vulnerabilities, with Houston dropping the second game at home. Now they’re coming into Target Center, licking their wounds but still riding high in the standings.

This is no cupcake matchup for the Wolves, who have struggled to find consistency all season. Houston can put up points in bunches, and they’ve got a squad that believes they belong in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race. The Wolves can’t afford to overlook them—not with their own NBA Cup hopes on the line.

What To Watch: Free Throws, Defense, and… Neon Green?

First off, let’s address the elephant—or should I say the fluorescent nightmare—in the room: that neon green court. Who signed off on this? It’s like someone decided to blend a highlighter with a strobe light and call it a design choice. If fans can make it through 48 minutes without going blind, it’ll be a win in itself.

Now, onto the actual game. The Wolves’ path to victory isn’t rocket science (pun intended): lockdown defense and attention to detail. Houston’s wings are their top scoring threats, and the Wolves’ perimeter defense will need to be sharp. That means Jaden McDaniels, Anthony Edwards, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker have to show up on the defensive end.

But it’s not just about contesting on the perimeter. The Wolves also need to clean the glass. Second-chance points have been a killer all season, and if Houston gets too many extra opportunities, it’ll be a long night. And while we’re on the topic of fundamentals, let’s talk free throws. The Wolves have been dreadful from the charity stripe lately. Julius Randle’s five missed free throws against Boston on Sunday? Those sting even more when you lose by two points. In a game that could come down to the wire, those freebies matter.

Naz, Rob, and the Bench Brigade

The Wolves need more from their bench, plain and simple. Naz Reid has been in a funk lately, and his energy off the bench has been sorely missed. When he’s on, Naz is a game-changer: hitting open threes, hustling for loose balls, and putting up points in the paint. When he’s off, as he has been recently, the Wolves lose one of their best weapons. Hopefully, the home crowd can give him the spark he needs.

And let’s talk about Rob Dillingham. The rookie has gone from garbage-time minutes to being thrust into a critical role recently with Mike Conley out. Against Boston, Dillingham was arguably the Wolves’ brightest spot, pouring in 14 points and sparking a fourth-quarter rally. If he can continue to grow into a capable floor general, it could be a game-changer for this team. The Wolves have struggled mightily at the point guard position, and if Conley can’t rediscover his form from last year, Dillingham’s development becomes even more crucial.

A Matter of Pride

This game isn’t just about standings or the NBA Cup. It’s about pride. It’s about whether this team wants to be taken seriously or if they’re content to coast through the season and hope they figure it out by April. The Wolves have shown they can hang with the NBA’s elite—they pushed Boston to the brink and have competed well in other big matchups. But against lower-tier teams like Portland, Toronto, and San Antonio? They’ve been maddeningly inconsistent.

The Wolves have a choice: they can be the team that plays down to their competition, dropping winnable games and scraping by as a low seed. Or they can be the team that shows up every night, fights for every possession, and proves they belong at the top of the Western Conference.

The Road Ahead

This week is just the beginning. After Houston, the Wolves face the Kings and Clippers at home, with the latter being another NBA Cup matchup. Beyond that, the schedule only gets tougher: matchups with the Lakers, Warriors, Knicks, Thunder and kryptonite Mavericks loom large to close out 2024. If the Wolves want to climb back into the Western Conference race—and maybe even make some noise in the NBA Cup—they need to start building momentum now.

The talent is there. The question is whether the effort will match. Here’s hoping we see a locked-in Wolves team on Tuesday night. If not? Well, that neon green court will be the least of our worries.