Minnesota Timberwolves vs Houston Rockets ATS Predictions – 1/16/2026

The Minnesota Timberwolves will visit the Houston Rockets on Friday in an important Western Conference contest in the NBA. Both teams have a lot at stake and come into this game going in opposite directions of late. Minnesota is starting to put things together out west, while the Rockets are looking to halt a disappointing stretch with a win in this contest. Before the action begins from Houston, keep reading to find my Timberwolves vs Rockets prediction for Friday night.

Our Timberwolves vs Rockets Pick

Game Snapshot

• Matchup: Minnesota Timberwolves @ Houston Rockets
• Date & Time: January 16, 2026, 9:30 p.m. ET
• Venue: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
• Broadcast: ESPN

Key Storylines

Minnesota has posted an impressive 27-14 record this season but enters this game with major offensive questions due to injuries to key contributors. Anthony Edwards and Terrence Shannon Jr. are both listed as out, leaving the Wolves thin on the wing and without their leading scorer. Despite that, Minnesota has been scoring at a high level overall, averaging over 120 points per contest. Their efficiency could be limited without their star scorer, but the Wolves have won four of their last five games and will try to prove they can win without Edwards again.

Houston’s recent form has been dismal. The Rockets experienced a 111-91 loss in their last game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night, where shooting woes plagued them and Kevin Durant was inefficient. That was the fourth loss in the last five games for the Rockets. Despite the setback, Durant and the coaching staff have spoken about staying confident and learning from the defeat without overreacting. Houston sits at 23-15 on the season, and they will be motivated to halt their recent slide at home, though they are tasked with playing for the second straight night here.

Head-to-Head & Betting Trends

• This is the first of three regular-season games that the Timberwolves and Rockets will play against each other this season.
• Houston is 18-20 against the spread this season.
• Minnesota is 18-23 against the spread going into Friday night.
• The over is 19-18-1 in Rockets games this year.
• The under is 21-20 in games involving the Timberwolves to this point in the regular season.

Timberwolves vs Rockets Model Projection

Final Thoughts

Jay Sanin

Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.