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GAME DAY PREVIEW Game time: 8:30pm ET Minnesota (22-16) at Houston (16-24) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Two of the hottest teams in the Midwest Division collide tonight as the Houston Rockets host the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Rockets dialed long distance on Sunday, setting a season high with 15 3-pointers in their impressive win. They hit 12-of-13 during one stretch after misfiring on eight of their first 10 attempts. Despite having his production slip over the last four games, Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Steve Francis has been averaging 22.2 points over the last four games. The guard leads the team in scoring (17.9 ppg.) and assists (261). The teams meet for the first time this season after Houston won two of three contests last season. Minnesota has a 15-3 record since December 18, when an eight-game losing streak left it at 7-13. The Timberwolves, who opened their trip with wins over Utah, the Clippers and Golden State, have won their last five road games to improve their record to 9-8 away from home. The Timberwolves are climbing up the division ladder and now sit a comfortable third, 4 1/2 in back of first-place Utah. Kevin Garnett has been outstanding, averaging 22.7 points and 12.1 rebounds per game, both team highs. Guard Terrell Brandon contributes 16.9 points and 9.0 assists. Malik Sealy, who has a chance to play more due to an injury to rookie Wally Szczerbiak last month, has provided a big lift since cracking the starting lineup. Sealy is averaging 12.4 points this season.
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