Remember when we thought this game was going to matter for the tiebreaker?
In sports, a few weeks can be a long time. Since these teams met and the Houston Rockets blew a double digit lead in overtime, Houston is 8-0 and looks (at times) to be a much different (read: better) team.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are obviously dealing with the Anthony Edwards injury, and since they are locked into the six seed, they can rest some of their other players in preparation for their first round matchup.
Houston,
on the other hand, is in a place that seemed inconceivable two weeks ago. They have an actual shot at home court advantage in the first round. They need to finished these last two games one better than the Los Angeles Lakers, who got a big win last night in the Bay Area (notice that Steph Curry came back for Houston but not the Lakers).
Other games of interest tonight are Nuggets-Thunder and Suns-Lakers. If you are rooting for Houston to play the Lakers in round 1, you are rooting for the Nuggets and Suns. If you want the Nuggets, why?
The Rockets obviously should just keep playing good basketball as the postseason approaches. They do not control their own destiny but would feel a lot better going into the playoffs on a high note. Remember that last season, Houston clinched the two seed with three games remaining and sat their starters in the first two of those games. In the finale, they tried to use it as a dress rehearsal against Denver, but were soundly beaten by a Denver team needing a win. That was a harbinger for Houston’s Game 1 loss to Warriors. Rest is nice, but rust is bad.
Tip-off
8:30pm CT
How To Watch
Space City Home Network and Amazon Prime
Injury Report
Rockets
Steven Adams: OUT
Fred VanVleet: OUT
Timberwolves
Anthony Edwards: GTD
Rudy Gobert: OUT
Ayo Dosunmu: GTD
Bones Hyland: GTD
Joe Ingles: OUT
The Line (as of this post)
HOU -10.5
Check here for updates
Looking ahead because we can
Sunday night at home against the Memphis Grizzlies
