This likely will be Minnesota’s final home game of the season without a victory; a win would assure the series would return to the Twin Cities for a Game 6.

NBA Playoffs Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Down 2-1, the Timberwolves are +600 on the Sports Interaction series line with Houston at -2000. The favoured exact result is Houston in five at -175. The longest shot is Minnesota in six at +3300. Only 19 times in league history has a team rallied from a 2-0 deficit to win a best-of-7 series. The Rockets did it twice (1994 & ’95).

A loss here would be quite surprising for the 65-win Rockets considering they haven’t been beaten in back-to-back games since Jan. 4 & Jan. 6. Houston lost at home by 10 to Golden State in the first game and at Detroit in the second.  During the regular season, the Rockets were 42-3 when the Big 3 of James Harden, Chris Paul and Clint Capela all played in a game. Those three losses were by just a combined 11 points. Since the 16-team playoff format was adopted in 1983-84, this is the first time the Rockets have been the West’s No. 1 seed.

Houston Rockets

The Rockets didn’t play all that great in winning the first two games of this series at home and it caught up to them in Game 3’s 121-105 loss in Minneapolis. Harden was solid with 29 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, and Paul had 17 points and six assists, but the other three starters — Trevor Ariza, P.J. Tucker and Capela – totaled just 17 points. One bright spot was the return of stretch four Ryan Anderson from an ankle injury. He hadn’t played since April 3 due to an ankle injury. Anderson finished Game 3 with 12 points in 18 minutes off the bench.

During the regular season, the Rockets lost by double digits only eight times. The team was 10-6 following a loss overall. This was one of the best offensive teams in the NBA in averaging 112.4 ppg but hasn’t topped 105 in this series yet. Houston was 43-5 when scoring at least 110 this year and 22-12 when not.

Minnesota Timberwolves

No matter the team, it’s going to win the vast majority of the time when shooting at least 50 per cent from the field. Minnesota made exactly half its shots (45-for-90) in Game 3 after shooting just 41.3 per cent the first two games of the series. What was even more surprising was that the Wolves, not a great 3-point shooting team, made as many (15) as Houston did in Game 3.

Karl-Anthony Towns broke out of a slump with 18 points and added 16 rebounds. Jimmy Butler had 28 points, Jeff Teague 23 (he outplayed Paul) and Thornhill, Ontario’s Andrew Wiggins 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. Houston has now lost its past nine playoff games when the opponents shoots at least 50 per cent.

Injuries

Houston

PJ Tucker (SF)

Prob Wed Knee - 24 / 04 / 18

Trevor Ariza (SF)

Out Wed Rest - 11 / 04 / 18

Clint Capela (C)

Prob Sun Hand - 11 / 04 / 18

Eric Gordon (SG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 11 / 04 / 18

Luc Mbah a Moute (PF)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 11 / 04 / 18

Nene (C)

Out Wed Rest - 11 / 04 / 18

Chris Paul (PG)

Out Wed Rest - 11 / 04 / 18

Tarik Black (PF)

Ques Tues Back - 06 / 04 / 18

Ryan Anderson (PF)

Prob Sat Ankle - 03 / 04 / 18

Gerald Green (SG)

day-to-day Leg - 01 / 04 / 18

Minnesota

Jeff Teague (PG)

Prob Wed Finger - 24 / 04 / 18

Tyus Jones (PG)

Prob Wed Knee - 23 / 04 / 18

Taj Gibson (PF)

Prob Sun Neck - 15 / 04 / 18

Derrick Rose (PG)

Prob Fri Ankle - 06 / 04 / 18

Justin Patton (C)

out for season Foot - 04 / 04 / 18

Cole Aldrich (C)

Ques Mon Illness - 26 / 03 / 18

Shabazz Muhammad (SG)

Out Fri Coach's Decision - 01 / 03 / 18

Aaron Brooks (PG)

Out indefinitely Personal - 01 / 03 / 18

Marcus Georges-Hunt (SG)

Ques Fri Illness - 07 / 02 / 18

Jamal Crawford (SG)

Prob Thurs Toe - 25 / 01 / 18

Injuries

Houston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
PJ Tucker (SF)	Prob Wed	Knee - 24 / 04 / 18	8-5	5-8	+ -
Tucker is expected to suit up against the Timberwolves for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round despite a left knee injury.
Trevor Ariza (SF)	Out Wed	Rest - 11 / 04 / 18	9-10	6-13	+ -
Ariza will not be available against the Kings on Wednesday as he will be given the night off to rest.
Clint Capela (C)	Prob Sun	Hand - 11 / 04 / 18	9-10	6-13	+ -
Capela is battling a hand injury but is likely to be available for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round against the Timberwolves.
Eric Gordon (SG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 11 / 04 / 18	9-10	6-13	+ -
Gordon has soreness in his left ankle but is expected to suit up against the Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Luc Mbah a Moute (PF)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 11 / 04 / 18	9-10	6-13	+ -
Mbah a Moute is recovering from a dislocated right shoulder but is expected to return for Game 1 of the Western Conference second round against the Jazz.
Nene (C)	Out Wed	Rest - 11 / 04 / 18	9-10	6-13	+ -
Nene will receive a day of rest and will not partake in Wednesday's game against the Kings.
Chris Paul (PG)	Out Wed	Rest - 11 / 04 / 18	9-10	6-13	+ -
Paul will not participate in Wednesday's game against the Kings due to a day of rest.
Tarik Black (PF)	Ques Tues	Back - 06 / 04 / 18	9-11	6-14	+ -
Black sat out the last game with a stiff lower back and it is unclear if he will play against the Lakers on Tuesday.
Ryan Anderson (PF)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 03 / 04 / 18	10-12	7-15	+ -
Anderson is recovering from a left ankle sprain but is expected to play in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round against the Timberwolves.
Gerald Green (SG)	day-to-day	Leg - 01 / 04 / 18	10-13	7-16	+ -
Green exited the previous game due to a left leg injury and it is unknown if he will return.

Minnesota

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Jeff Teague (PG)	Prob Wed	Finger - 24 / 04 / 18	0-1	1-0	+ -
Teague is expected to suit up for Game 5 of the Western Conference first round against the Rockets despite a dislocated finger.
Tyus Jones (PG)	Prob Wed	Knee - 23 / 04 / 18	1-1	2-0	+ -
Jones is hampered by soreness in his right knee but is likely to play against the Rockets in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round.
Taj Gibson (PF)	Prob Sun	Neck - 15 / 04 / 18	3-2	3-2	+ -
Gibson is expected to play against the Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round against the Rockets despite a neck injury.
Derrick Rose (PG)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 06 / 04 / 18	6-3	4-5	+ -
Rose is battling an ankle injury but is expected to be available for Friday's game against the Lakers.
Justin Patton (C)	out for season	Foot - 04 / 04 / 18	6-3	4-5	+ -
Patton had surgery on his left foot to repair a fractured metatarsal and is likely to miss the remainder of the season.
Cole Aldrich (C)	Ques Mon	Illness - 26 / 03 / 18	6-6	6-7	+ -
Aldrich is battling an illness and it is uncertain if he will be available against the Grizzlies on Monday.
Shabazz Muhammad (SG)	Out Fri	Coach's Decision - 01 / 03 / 18	10-12	13-10	+ -
Muhammad will not be available Friday against the Jazz as he works with the team toward a buyout.
Aaron Brooks (PG)	Out indefinitely	Personal - 01 / 03 / 18	10-12	13-10	+ -
Brooks has been sidelined due to a personal matter and it is uncertain when he will return.
Marcus Georges-Hunt (SG)	Ques Fri	Illness - 07 / 02 / 18	12-18	20-11	+ -
Georges-Hunt has missed the last five games with an illness and his availability for Friday against the Rockets is uncertain.
Jamal Crawford (SG)	Prob Thurs	Toe - 25 / 01 / 18	16-21	23-15	+ -
Crawford is expected to be on the court for Thursday's game against the Warriors despite an injured toe.

Rockets vs. Timberwolves Game 4 Prediction