Rockets Seek Ninth Straight Win Against Undermanned Timberwolves

Houston looks to solidify playoff positioning as Minnesota rests key players.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 7:41pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented, overlapping scenes of a basketball game, with players and the court broken down into sharp, angular shapes and planes of color.The Rockets' push for playoff positioning collides with the Timberwolves' rest strategy in a visually fractured clash of basketball action.Houston Today

The Houston Rockets are riding an eight-game winning streak and will look to extend it to nine against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night. The Rockets are jockeying for playoff positioning, while the Timberwolves will be without several key players as they rest up for the postseason.

Why it matters

The Rockets' hot streak has them in contention for a top-4 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, which would give them home-court advantage in the first round. A win over the Timberwolves would further solidify their position. Meanwhile, Minnesota is locked into the 6th seed and is prioritizing rest over chasing a higher seed.

The details

The Rockets will be without starting center Steven Adams and guard Fred VanVleet, both of whom are out for the season with injuries. Forward Tari Eason is also listed as questionable with an illness. The Timberwolves will be missing several rotation players, including Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, Bones Hyland and Joe Ingles. Star guard Anthony Edwards is questionable with a knee injury.

  • The Rockets and Timberwolves tip off at 8:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday, April 10, 2026.
  • The Rockets are currently riding an 8-game winning streak.

The players

Houston Rockets

An NBA team based in Houston, Texas that is currently in playoff position in the Western Conference.

Minnesota Timberwolves

An NBA team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that has clinched a playoff berth but is resting key players.

Steven Adams

The Rockets' starting center who is out for the season with a left ankle injury.

Fred VanVleet

The Rockets' starting guard who is out for the season with a right knee ACL injury.

Tari Eason

A Rockets forward who is questionable to play due to an illness.

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What they’re saying

“We're playing some of our best basketball of the season right now. This is the time to really make a push and solidify our playoff position.”

— Stephen Silas, Rockets Head Coach

What’s next

The Rockets will continue their push for a top-4 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Their next game after the Timberwolves will be against the Nuggets, who currently hold the 3rd seed.

The takeaway

The Rockets are peaking at the right time, riding an 8-game winning streak to position themselves for home-court advantage in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves are resting key players as they prepare for the postseason, making this a favorable matchup for Houston.