Jonah Ballow
Wolves Editor/Writer
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Wolves vs. Rockets 7 PM - Target Center
WHERE TO WATCH: FSNORTH
WHERE TO LISTEN: KFAN 1130

Scouting Report:
Big Picture:

Kurt Rambis DOWNLOAD MP3 Jonny Flynn DOWNLOAD MP3 Kevin Love DOWNLOAD MP3 Shane Battier DOWNLOAD MP3 Kevin Martin DOWNLOAD MP3

For about half of the season, Houston was considered the most surprising team in the league with a potential shot at the postseason. The Rockets simply could not maintain the winning pace needed to secure a coveted Western Conference playoff birth. Entering the contest against Minnesota, Houston has lost seven of its last 10 games and the team holds an overall record of 30-30. The future is still bright for the Rockets under Daryl Morley’s watch after the highly respected general manager cleared a ton of cap space by shipping Tracy McGrady to New York. Sacramento helped the deal come to fruition and Houston acquired sharpshooter Kevin Martin, Hilton Armstrong, Jordan Hill, and Jared Jefferies.

Last Meeting:
Who could forget the first triple overtime game in franchise history? On January 13, the Rockets slid past Minnesota 120-114 in the marathon contest in Houston.

Backcourt:
The Rockets bolstered their offensive punch in the back court by adding Martin. As one of the most underrated scorers, Martin only averaged 2.9 points per game in his rookie season. Last year, the shooting guard vaulted to 24.6 despite dealing with injuries that were also seen at the beginning of this season. Martin owns a quick release and enjoys working off screens to gain space on the perimeter. Point guard Aaron Brooks has presented some defensive issues for the Wolves this season, posting 43 points in the last meeting. Brooks is lighting quick with the basketball and can shoot lights out from deep range. Minnesota shooting guard Corey Brewer has fond memories of the previous matchup against Houston after he drilled a half-court shot at the end of regulation. On Wednesday night, Brewer led the team in scoring with 24 points and continued his streak of hitting a 3-pointer in 26 straight games.

Frontcourt:
Head coach Rick Adelman utilizes a small frontline by featuring Shane Battier, Luis Scola, and Chuck Hayes in the starting lineup. At 6-6, Hayes outworks most of his opponents to overcome a lack of length. The Rockets received a boost from the 17 boards Hayes compiled in the January 13 meeting while Carl Landry jumped off the bench for 16 points. Houston was forced to send Landry in the trade deadline deal, which now places more responsibility on Scola. Minnesota will play its second consecutive game without Al Jefferson following his two-game suspension handed down from the front office. Jefferson was a beast on the glass in the last meeting in Houston; the center broke a franchise record with 26 rebounds.

What To Look For:
After listening to head coach Kurt Rambis talk at practice on Thursday and Friday, it sounds like he will start Darko Milicic again. Milicic replaces Jefferson for the second time this week; he suffered through early foul trouble against Dallas on Wednesday night. Minnesota is also shorthanded in the backcourt with Wayne Ellington trying to recover from a sprained ankle. Both teams should be well rested with two days off from game action and significant practice time to prepare for tonight’s matchup.

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