Timberwolves and Rockets Face Off After All-Star Break With Key Players Questionable

Both teams grapple with injuries as the Timberwolves aim to close the playoff gap and the Rockets seek to regain momentum.

The Minnesota Timberwolves (31-25) and Houston Rockets (34-21) meet Friday night at Toyota Center in Houston, with the game airing on ESPN at 9:30 PM ET.
Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, and Mike Conley are listed as questionable for Minnesota, while Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo remain sidelined.
Houston's Fred VanVleet is ruled out, but Jabari Smith Jr. is set to return after missing 22 games with a broken hand.
The Rockets have struggled recently, losing seven of their last ten games, while the Timberwolves are coming off a significant win against the Thunder before the break.
This matchup carries playoff implications as the Timberwolves are fighting to avoid the play-in tournament, sitting one game behind the sixth-seeded Clippers.