Rockets at Wolves (Jan. 21): Prediction, point spread, odds, best bet

After 12 straight losses and 17 in their past 18 games, the Houston Rockets (10-35) now own the NBA’s worst losing streak of the 2022-23 season. Saturday offers another chance to finally end it.

One of Houston’s near-misses in this woeful stretch was on Jan. 8 versus Minnesota, when the Rockets led the Timberwolves by 20 in the first half before falling apart in the second half. Nearly two weeks later, they will have a new opportunity to finish the job.

If you’re looking to do last-minute betting research for Saturday’s Rockets-Timberwolves game, you’re in luck! We’ll give you the latest point spread, money line odds and over/under number, as well as the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet at BetMGM.

The game starts at 7 p.m. Central and can be seen via AT&T SportsNet Southwest (in Houston markets) or on NBA League Pass.

Place your bets at BetMGM

The lines, courtesy of BetMGM

• Point spread: Timberwolves -7.5
• Money line: Timberwolves -300 / Rockets +240
• Over-under: 237.5

Rockets at Timberwolves injury report:

• Rockets: Kevin Porter Jr. doubtful (left foot soreness), Jabari Smith Jr. doubtful (right ankle sprain)
• Timberwolves: Karl Anthony-Towns out (right calf strain), Jordan McLaughlin out (left calf strain), Anthony Edwards questionable (left hip soreness), Rudy Gobert questionable (right groin soreness), Austin Rivers questionable (left knee contusion)

Advice and prediction

The Rockets are gradually trending in a more competitive direction. After finishing within double digits just twice (one coming versus this same Minnesota team) in the first 10 games of this losing streak, they’ve stayed within single digits in each of their last two games.

Picking Houston to win is probably a bridge too far, but we’ll take them to cover a moderately large spread number. It could also be worth exploring any personal props on Sengun, who is averaging 21.5 points (68.5% FG), 10.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.5 blocks in the four games that Porter has missed with his latest injury.

There’s also some bonus covering value if the Timberwolves (23-24) end up without Edwards and/or Gobert, who are both questionable with nagging injuries. Perhaps Minnesota decides that a weaker opponent like Houston is a good opportunity for a rest game.

Prediction: Timberwolves 120, Rockets 114

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.