8:30 p.m. at Houston • TNT, 8:30 a.m.

Harden expected to be back

Preview: The NBA's leading scorer at 32.3 points a game, Rockets guard James Harden missed the past seven games because of a Grade 2 hamstring strain and his team is 4-3 since then, including Monday's contentious 113-102 loss at the Los Angeles Clippers. He could return against the Wolves on a minutes' restriction. … The Rockets won the season series a year ago 3-1, winning both games at Toyota Center. …Note the late 8:30 p.m. start time because the game is the second half of TNT's Thursday night doubleheader. Marv Albert will do play-by-play and Grant Hill will provide commentary.

Players to watch: Perennial All-Star point guard Chris Paul averaged 22.4 points, 9.7 assists and 7.1 rebounds in the seven games Harden has missed. He also has committed just three turnovers in the past three games after he had 16 turnovers in the three games before that. … Rockets big man Clint Capela leads the NBA in field-goal percentage, at 66.6 percent.

Injuries: Wolves C Justin Patton remains assigned to the G League's Iowa Wolves while he plays himself back from summer foot surgery. Rockets list Harden as questionable because of a hamstring sprain that has caused him to miss the past two weeks. C Nene (knee contusion), F Troy Williams (knee MCL), F/C Zhou Qi (elbow) and F/C Chinanu Onuaku (sinus surgery) all are listed as questionable as well.

JERRY ZGODA