Rockets vs. Timberwolves NBA final score, prediction and odds for Tuesday, April 2 (Count on defense)

Minnesota is still in a three-way battle for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. The Timberwolves, currently in the No. 3 seed, are just one game back of the top of the west with eight regular-season games remaining.

The Timberwolves have been able to keep their season on the right track despite losing star Karl-Anthony Towns, going 8-4 since he went down. Can they pull away from the surging Rockets Tuesday night at home? 

Houston is one of the hottest teams in the NBA to keep its playoff hopes alive. The Rockets reeled off 11 consecutive wins (13 of 14 overall) before Sunday’s home loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Houston is just two games back of Golden State for the No. 10 spot in the west and final play-in spot.

Can they hang as road underdogs Tuesday? Here’s the betting breakdown of the matchup with a best bet. 

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Rockets vs. Timberwolves odds, spread and total

Rockets vs. Timberwolves how to watch

• Date: Tuesday, April 4 
• Game time: 8 p.m. EST
• Venue: Target Center
• How to watch (TV): Bally Sports
• Rockets record: 38-36
• Timberwolves record: 51-23

Rockets vs. Timberwolves  injury report

Houston Rockets

• Alperen Sengun – out
• Nate Hinton – out
• Steven Adams – out
• Tari Eason – out
• Jermaine Samuels Jr. – out

Minnesota Timberwolves

• Jaylen Clark – out
• Karl-Anthony Towns – out

Rockets vs. Timberwolves key players to watch

Houston Rockets

Jalen Green: The former No. 2 overall pick was Houston’s leading scorer in eight consecutive games over the winning streak before being held to 12 points on 5-of-15 shooting in Sunday’s loss to the Mavericks. Green finished his hot month averaging 27.7 points per game and shooting nearly 50% from the field in March. 

Minnesota Timberwolves

Anthony Edwards: With Minnesota lacking a lot of bench production and Towns sidelined, Edwards has helped pick up the intensity on the defensive end. He grabbed double-digit rebounds three times over the last eight games, including Sunday’s 22-point, 11-rebound double-double against Chicago. Edwards averaged 6.6 rebounds per game in March, his highest monthly output this season. 

Rockets vs. Timberwolves  prediction and pick

Towns being out has obviously hurt Minnesota’s offensive showings, but the Timberwolves have learned to use its top-tier defense to be at its best without the four-time All-Star. In eight games since dropping back-to-back contests, Minnesota has held its opponent to 104 points or less six times. 

In two matchups this season against Houston, Minnesota cruised to a pair of double-digit victories while suffocating Houston’s offense. In those contests, the Timberwolves combined to hold the Rockets to a combined 67-of-178 from the field (37.6%) and 22-of-62 from beyond the arc (35.4%). 

Minnesota’s defense has led the way in recent play, with unders in Timberwolves’ games going 7-5 without Towns, including in three consecutive games. Expect more of the same against a Houston squad that is 20th in the NBA in road scoring and 26th in effective field goal percentage. 

Houston’s defense can keep this point total low as the Rockets are top-10 in scoring, No. 7 against 2-point shots and No. 2 against triples. Take the under. 

Game odds update periodically and are subject to change.