PREVIEW: The Timberwolves and Rockets are tied in the standings , making Wednesday's matchup against Houston a crucial game with significant playoff implications for Minnesota. Anthony Edwards remains sidelined with a knee injury , forcing the Timberwolves to lean on secondary scoring options. Minnesota has won four of their last six games, including an impressive road victory over the Boston Celtics , demonstrating resilience without their star player. The Rockets enter this contest having lost to the Chicago Bulls despite dominant individual performances from Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun , signaling they're due for a bounce-back opportunity. Houston boasts excellent offensive rebounding at 31.3 percent, ranking first in that category, but struggles significantly with defensive rebounding at 30th , a vulnerability Minnesota should target on the glass. The Rockets also rank 29th in three-point shooting frequency at 34.7 percent , relying instead on mid-range offense and post-ups. Minnesota's defense allows high-quality three-pointers and ranks 25th in that area , potentially giving Houston confidence from distance. The Timberwolves must prioritize rebounding control with Gobert and Randle, treating every missed shot like a 50-50 opportunity to prevent Houston from capitalizing on second chances.