2018 NBA Playoffs First round Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Houston Rockets: Preview and Prediction

No. 1 Houston Rockets (65-17) vs. No. 8 Minnesota Timberwolves (47-35)

Playoff series schedule:

• Game 1 in Houston: Sunday, April 15, 9 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 2 in Houston: Wednesday, April 18, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 3 in Minneapolis: Saturday, April 21, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Game 4 in Minneapolis: Monday, April 23, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
• Game 5 in Houston: TBA (if necessary)
• Game 6 in Minneapolis: TBA (if necessary)
• Game 7 in Houston: TBA (if necessary)

Season series: 4-0, Rockets

Why will the Rockets win?

Defense! The Rockets will have answers to all the questions that Minnesota can pose to them? Clint Capela is a big enough body to make life difficult in the post for Karl Anthony Towns and P.J. Tucker should be able to keep Jimmy Butler from going off and taking over a game. The Rockets are number one seed for a reason and that reason is that they are a complete talented team.

Why will the T-Wolves win?

Jimmy Butler will have to lock down James Harden without that happening, this series will be over quickly. When Houston goes small, Karl Anthony Towns must be able to take over the game in the low post. Most of all, the T-Wolves best chance will be if the Rockets show up unprepared and looking ahead.

Prediction: The Rockets are going to win this series and they will win it easily.

Rockets in 4