Game Preview #57 – Timberwolves at Rockets

The Timberwolves are coming out of All-Star Weekend fresh with some familiar faces back in the lineup. Can they rise to the occasion and take down the Rockets to start off a brutal four-game stretch against the Western Conference elites?

Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets
Date: February 21st, 2025
Time: 8:30 PM CST
Location: Toyota Center
Television Coverage: FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio Coverage: KFAN FM/Wolves App/iHeart Radio

Timberwolves vs. Rockets: Time to Put on the Work Pants and Get to Business

It’s been a long week, hasn’t it? The Timberwolves haven’t played in what feels like forever, and outside of a Leonard Miller appearance in the Rising Stars competition, it was a mostly Minnesota-free All-Star Weekend. No Wolves playing in the big game, no major spotlight moments, just a sore-hipped Ant-Man and a lot of time to sit around and think about how brutal these next 26 games are going to be.

And now, the sprint to the finish begins. The Wolves are back in action Friday night in Houston for their fourth and final regular-season meeting with the Rockets, kicking off what might be the most grueling stretch of the season. Minnesota has to hit the ground running—no time for post-All-Star sluggishness.

Here’s the reality: every game matters from here on out. This is a Western Conference bloodbath, and the difference between the 4-seed and the play-in tournament might be a couple of sloppy losses in February.

So let’s focus. First up: Houston.

State of the Wolves: Walking Wounded but Still Swinging

When we last saw the Wolves, they were missing half their roster and still found a way to grind out a gutsy win against the Oklahoma City Thunder. No Donte DiVincenzo. No Julius Randle. No Mike Conley. No Rudy Gobert. Just a lot of hustle, some elite perimeter defense, and a reminder that Anthony Edwards will fight until the last whistle blows.

The good news? The cavalry is (sort of) coming back.

• Edwards should be good to go after skipping the All-Star Game to rest his hip.
• Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert will likely be back, which means structure on offense and elite rim protection on defense.
• Julius Randle? Still TBD. That groin injury is tricky, but there was some hope he’d return by this game.

The bad news? DiVincenzo is still out with his toe injury and no clear time table for a return.

UPDATE: The Timberwolves Public Relations team posted an injury update on the status of Randle and DiVincenzo.

This Isn’t the Same Old Houston Team

For years, talking about the Houston Rockets in a game preview felt like a waste of time. They were rebuilding, they were tanking, and they were basically running glorified pickup games under Stephen Silas.

That’s over now.

Under Ime Udoka, the Rockets actually play defense, they’re scrappy, they’re annoying, and they have a chip on their shoulder. They’ve cooled off after a strong start, but they can absolutely take you down if you’re not careful.

And if you need proof of how tight these Wolves-Rockets games have been, here’s a quick recap:

• Game 1: Minnesota loses a brutal OT game at home in NBA Cup action.
• Game 2: Minnesota steals a miracle on the road with a 16-point comeback in the fourth quarter.
• Game 3: The Wolves somehow find a second gear on the second night of a back-to-back and unload in the 4th quarter at home.

All three games have been absolute wars, and the Wolves can expect another gritty, physical fight on Friday night.

Keys to the Game: How the Wolves Can Leave Houston With a Win

1. Rudy Gobert vs. Alperen Şengün: The Interior Battle

Last time these teams met, Gobert looked like Defensive Player of the Year material, completely shutting down Şengün after getting roasted in their previous matchup. Houston’s offense flows through their big man, and if Gobert (and Naz Reid) can disrupt that rhythm, the Wolves will have a major edge.

The Wolves need to own the glass, eliminate second-chance points, and keep Şengün from orchestrating Houston’s offense from the paint.

2. Don’t Let Jalen Green & Co. Go Nuclear

Jalen Green is the definition of a feast-or-famine player—he might go 4-for-18, or he might light you up for 35 points on 7-of-10 from three.

This is where Jaden McDaniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Jaylen Clark need to shine. Close out hard, contest every shot, and don’t give Green, VanVleet (if he plays), or Dillon Brooks any room to get comfortable.

3. Match the Physicality

If there was one theme from the last Wolves-Rockets game, it was toughness. These teams do not like each other, and the last time they met, things got chippy.

This isn’t the old, soft Timberwolves team that folds under pressure. We’ve seen Edwards thrive in these types of games, we’ve seen McDaniels take pride in making life miserable for opposing wings, and we know Gobert will mix it up inside.

The Wolves need to embrace the physicality, set the tone early, and make it clear that this is going to be a war.

4. Anthony Edwards Needs to Be THAT Guy Again

We’ve already seen Edwards torch the Rockets for 41 points this season. And one could argue that, heading into All-Star Weekend, he was playing the best basketball of his life.

If Edwards is still in supernova mode, the Wolves should be in great shape. But if he looks rusty or tentative coming off the break? This game gets a lot tougher.

Expect Houston to throw everything at him defensively—double teams, blitzes, Dillon Brooks talking trash, you name it. How Ant responds will determine the outcome of this game.

Final Thoughts: This One Matters More Than You Think

There’s no such thing as “just one game” in this Western Conference race. The Wolves need every single win they can get, and dropping this one—especially with a back-to-back against OKC and a showdown with the Luka Lakers looming—would be a tough pill to swallow.

Minnesota doesn’t need to be perfect in these next four games, but they need to avoid disaster.

• Best-case scenario: They go 3-1 over this stretch, and suddenly they’re surging towards a top-four seed with some momentum.
• Worst-case scenario: They go 1-3, slip further down to the play-in mix, and now every game is a must-win.

It all starts Friday night in Houston. Time to shake off the All-Star rust, throw on the work pants, and get to business.

Prediction? Wolves 112, Rockets 106. Edwards keeps rolling, Gobert controls the paint, and Minnesota starts this post-All-Star stretch on the right foot.

Now go get it done, Wolves.