Wolves at Rockets, Jan. 5: Prediction, point spread, odds, best bet
The Houston Rockets will soon wrap up a seven-game homestand at Toyota Center — tied for their longest of the 2023-24 season — with a tough back-to-back against two of the NBA’s elite.
Thus far, results have been mixed. The Rockets (17-15) opened the current homestand with three straight losses, though it’s worth noting they had late leads in two of those three (Indiana and Philadelphia). Since then, Houston has won two straight — both by double digits — versus outmanned Detroit and Brooklyn teams.
But the competition is about to get much more challenging, and it will stay that way for some time. Minnesota (24-9) enters Friday’s game with the No. 1 record in the Western Conference.
If you’d like last-minute betting research, you’re in luck! We have the latest point spread, money line odds and over/under number, as well as all the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet.
Friday’s game starts at 7 p.m. Central and can be seen on the Space City Home Network and NBA League Pass.
Here’s a look at Friday’s lines:
- Point spread: Timberwolves -3.5
- Money line: Timberwolves -165 / Rockets +135
- Over/under: 218.5
Timberwolves at Rockets injury report:
Houston’s injury report lists Victor Oladipo (left patellar tendon repair) and Dillon Brooks (right oblique strain) as out, while Tari Eason (left lower leg soreness) is questionable. Nate Hinton, Jermaine Samuels Jr. and Nate Williams are in the NBA G League.
Minnesota is without Jaylen Clark (right Achilles tendon rupture rehab), while Luka Garza (low back spasms) is questionable.
Advice and prediction
The competition will remain steep for the Rockets for quite some time, with Milwaukee — currently the No. 2 team (25-10) in the Eastern Conference — visiting Saturday to wrap up the seven-game homestand. That will be night two of a back-to-back for the Rockets, who will then set out on a six-game road trip versus East teams.
Because of that difficult schedule, don’t expect the Rockets to take any team for granted. They know they will have to play hard and execute to pick up wins, and that could prompt head coach Ime Udoka to be more aggressive in pushing for a win on Friday, since future games for his team will either be at a rest disadvantage or on the road. Minnesota is the better team, but Houston could easily cover, and an outright win is plausible. We’ll take the extra points, just to be safe.
Prediction: Timberwolves 111, Rockets 109
Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.
