wolves gameday
7 P.M. at Houston • Toyota Center • FSN, 830-Am
Preview: The Wolves, playing for the fourth time in five nights, will try to end a three-game road losing streak against a Houston team that has been off since losing Wednesday at Dallas. That loss ended a three-game winning streak for Houston, which came on the heels of a stretch in which the team lost four of six games. Minnesota is 3-4 vs. Western Conference teams this season.
Players to watch: Wolves F Kevin Love has double-doubles in nine consecutive road games, the longest such streak in the NBA. SG Kevin Martin, who played two-plus seasons in Houston, has scored 23 or more points in nine of 13 games. Houston G James Hardin is averaging 24.2 points and 5.4 assists per game. C Dwight Howard, in his first season with the Rockets, is averaging 18.4 points and 13.7 rebounds.
Numbers: Entering Friday's games, the Rockets led the league in scoring (109.7) and in points in the paint (50.8) per game. Houston won two of the three games between the two teams last season.
Injuries: Wolves F Chase Budinger (knee) and C Ronny Turiaf (elbow) are out. F Shabazz Muhammad (ankle) is questionable. Houston G/F Ronnie Brewer (right calf) has missed two games in a row. FC Greg Smith (right knee) has missed the past three.
Kent Youngblood