The gist: With seven players scoring in double figures, the Rockets easily dispatched a Suns squad that displayed no offensive firepower whatsoever. They take on the Timberwolves, who are coming off a 108-105 win despite allowing the Nets’ Anthony Morrow to run amok with 42 points.
Key matchup: Chandler Parsons vs Michael Beasley
Minnesota has been playing with a purpose ever since Beasley returned from his foot injury. Adelman has shuffled his lineup and now has Beasley in a sixth man role, a position Beasley relishes and maximizes. Parsons cannot allow another offensive explosion from the volatile forward similar to what happened in their last tiff.
X-factor: Kyle Lowry
Lowry is coming off a 5-8-9 night against Phoenix that left many scratching their heads. Lowry seems to be all over the court with his hustle but looks gassed when the Rockets set up their offense. Lowry will need help from the big men in terms of initiating the offense from the post for him to be at peak performance longer.
Code Red: Nikola Pekovic is coming off a career night, pouring 27 points and grabbing 11 boards in their win last night. Pekovic has been a revelation, providing significant contributions whenever he spells Darko Milicic. Jordan Hill and Patrick Patterson cannot rest on their laurels against the up-and-coming big. In their last game, Kevin Love also got a lot of open looks from the perimeter. Someone (by someone, we all mean Luis Scola) has to keep the defense honest on him.