Updated January 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.
Pick: | Timberwolves +4.5 ATS PRO |
Confidence: | 3/5 |
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.
Score Projection: Rockets 115 – Timberwolves 113 ATS PRO
Win Probability: Rockets 52%, Timberwolves 48% ATS PRO
This game is going to teach us a lot about both of these teams, as both teams are tasked with overcoming some adversity here. The Wolves are going to try to get a win without their top player, while the Rockets are in the middle of a run of poor play and on the second game of a back-to-back. I think the Rockets will win this game at home, but I'm taking the points with Minnesota, as they should be the fresher team in clutch time and they still have the talent and depth to compete without Edwards available.
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.
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