After a disappointing loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, the Houston Rockets must turn their attention to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Tonight is also an NBA Cup game, and while I don’t fully understand the tiebreakers, a win would move Houston to 3-0 in group play, and the only other teams that could end up with three wins are the Clippers and Blazers. , teams that Houston already defeated in the Cup.

Still, this is a big test for Houston as they head into a tough few weeks. After tonight’s game, Houston flies to Philadelphia, where the 76ers should get Joel Embiid and Paul George back in time for Houston. The Rockets get three days off after that, which is nice. But next comes an OKC team that will be favored even without Chet Holmgren, followed by a three-game road trip to California to take on the Kings, Warriors and Clippers. The schedule lightens up a bit after that, but comes back with a vengeance around the new year.

Last season, the Timberwolves won the season series with Houston 3-0. Two games were blowouts, and in the third, Houston came close late before Minny’s final kick was too much.

Minnesota presents their own challenges with Rudy Gobert on defense and Anthony Edwards on offense. If Ant doesn’t get the defense right, the newly acquired Julius Randle and Donte DiVencenzo can do some damage. Naz Reid had a lot of big moments last season and Jaden McDaniels has the contract blueprint that Tari Eason is likely looking at (5 years, $136 million). And Eason will probably ask for more.

All of which is to say that if Houston can get one of these two games in a row, they should feel pretty good. On paper, the Sixers game seems like the easier hill to climb, but the aforementioned impending returns of two superstars combined with the fact that Houston will be back-to-back while Philly will have had two days off makes for a solid schedule lose even with Embiid and George.

We’ll be in the Playback Room tonight, so feel free to come by and watch the Rockets and talk about the game. Don’t forget, we’ll be getting a handful of VIP passes that we’ll be handing out to anyone who wants to watch the match. No League Pass needed!

Tip off

7pm CT

How to watch

Space City home network and display TV

Injury report

Missiles

Steven Adams: DTD

Timber wolves

Mike Conley: GTD

The Line (from this post)

MIN-3.5

Check here for updates

Looking ahead because you can

Tomorrow night at the Philadelphia 76ers