Houston @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 17, 2019 ) Minnesota 102, Houston 117

Sharing a backcourt with Russell Westbrook has done nothing to hinder James Harden's production, and the reigning scoring champion will try to carry the Houston Rockets to a seventh straight victory Saturday at the Minnesota Timberwolves. Harden has recorded over 40 points four times during the Rockets' six-game run, including 44 in Friday's 111-102 victory over the Indiana Pacers at home.

"He's playing unbelievable basketball," Pacers coach Nate McMillan told reporters after Harden torched his team with 13-for-26 shooting to go along with eight rebounds, five assists and four steals. "Some of the shots that he has taken, you have guys right there in his face. I haven't seen that in my career -- a player with his ability to score." Ben McLemore chipped in a season-high 21 points in Friday's win for Houston, which played without center Clint Capela (concussion). The Timberwolves are 1-1 thus far on a three-game homestand after a 137-116 loss to Washington on Friday. Andrew Wiggins, who averaged 31.6 points over his previous five games, missed the contest for Minnesota following the death of his grandmother and his status for Saturday is uncertain.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), FS North (Minnesota)

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (9-3): While Harden is rolling, fellow superstar Westbrook has hit a bit of a snag on the offensive end and was 5-for-21 from the floor Friday. The two-time scoring champ is 8-for-45 from beyond the arc over a nine-game stretch and is shooting 21.8 percent from behind the arc this season. McLemore had a total of 15 points in 77 minutes over a span of four contests prior to Friday night's breakthrough.

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (7-5): Minnesota shot 54.3 percent and recorded a season-high 33 assists in a rout of the Wizards in Washington earlier this month, but it could not duplicate the effort without the red-hot Wiggins. "We missed him in a number of ways," coach Ryan Saunders told reporters of Wiggins. "He's been competing defensively, but then offensively he's been able to help get guys easy shots, too. He takes the pressure off [center Karl-Anthony Towns] there. There's a spirit about Andrew right now." Towns scored 36 points in Friday's loss and Robert Covington added 20 as both went 4-for-6 from 3-point range, but their teamates were 3-for-25 from beyond the arc.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Houston is 6-0 when Harden scores at least 40 points.

2. Timberwolves rookie SF Kelan Martin made his second appearance with Wiggins out Friday night and missed all six of his 3-point tries in just 13 minutes.

3. Towns averaged 23.7 points and 10 rebounds to help Minnesota take two of three matchups last season.

PREDICTION: Rockets 118, Timberwolves 112