Timberwolves at Rockets
The Houston Rockets breezed into the All-Star break with a 10-game winning streak and the top spot in the Western Conference, and now they just need to hang on for another 25 games. The Rockets will see if the momentum carried through the break when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.
Houston is aware of the tough road it needs to overcome the rest of the regular season with a schedule that features 10 of 13 on the road after Friday, with the lone home games against Boston, San Antonio and the Los Angeles Clippers. "Everyone is going to come after us," Rockets guard Chris Paul told reporters. "The competition is going to be tough, but we are winning games and playing good basketball right now." The Timberwolves are one of those teams trying to come after Houston and emerge from the break percentage points behind the Spurs for the No. 3 spot in the West but only 3 1/2 games clear of the ninth-place Clippers entering play on Thursday. Minnesota was not quite up to the challenge against the Rockets at home on Feb. 13, when it allowed Houston to make 10 3-pointers in the fourth quarter of a 126-108 setback.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, FS North (Minnesota), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)
ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (36-25): The Timberwolves had two players invited to the All-Star Game on Sunday, though swingman Jimmy Butler never got off the bench. Center Karl-Anthony Towns, who leads the NBA with 51 double-doubles, did what he does best on the in big stage and dropped 17 points and 10 rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench for Team Stephen. "I found a groove early and rode the wave the rest of the game," Towns told reporters. "I'm happy with my first All-Star Game. Finding a way to get a double-double is pretty cool."
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (44-13): Houston added to its roster during the break, signing veteran swingman Joe Johnson and power forward Brandan Wright after the two cleared waivers. Coach Mike D'Antoni, who is also expected to get small forward Trevor Ariza back on Friday after a nine-game absence, has yet to settle on a rotation. "I don't want to tinker too much, but I have to tinker because we have some new guys," D'Antoni told the Houston Chronicle. "We have to figure out rotations and figure out how guys are comfortable. We have to see who plays well with each other. We have to see a lot of things. ... We just have to figure out, can we keep everybody mentally fresh, alive, hit the right buttons, and (get) everybody ready?"
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Timberwolves PF Taj Gibson scored a season-high 28 points in a 119-111 win over the Los Angeles Lakers before the break.
2. Rockets C Clint Capela recorded a double-double in eight of the last 10 games.
3. Houston took the last four and nine of 10 in the series.