Minnesota @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 12, 2017 ) Minnesota 118, Houston 123

Both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets saw their respective winning streaks come to an end in heated affairs on the road. The two Western Conference contenders will try to keep their emotions in check and get back into the win column when they meet Thursday in Houston in the first of four encounters over the next two months.

The Rockets had won three in a row before a testy loss to the Los Angeles Clippers that resulted in several Houston players attempting to get into the Clippers' locker room and police coming to the scene to calm the situation. "They were talking crazy throughout the game," Rockets guard Eric Gordon told the Houston Chronicle. "Yeah, they were playing well. We just didn't like how it ended. The refs let them talk crazy until something had to happen, let guys on our own go out there. We're not going to stand by with somebody out there like that. Blake Griffin, he's talking crazy. All those guys were talking big. Things happen. We're going to remember it, though." The Timberwolves will certainly remember a 108-102 loss at lowly Orlando on Tuesday that featured a second-quarter fight and eventually ended their five-game winning streak. Jimmy Butler scored 28 points for Minnesota, which has given up at least 103 points in three straight outings after holding seven consecutive opponents under 100.

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES (29-17): With this visit to Houston, a home game against Toronto and then a three-game road trip that includes games against the streaking Clippers and the defending champs in Golden State, Tuesday's loss may have been a blessing. "I'm glad we (expletive) lost, coming in here on our high horse thinking we are a really good team and we haven't done anything yet," Butler told reporters. "Good for us, man. They played better than us." While Butler was 4-for-4 from the line, eight of his teammates combined to go just 5-for-6.

ABOUT THE ROCKETS (30-12): Houston is 4-3 since losing the NBA's leading scorer, James Harden, to a hamstring injury but he has been upgraded to questionable for this one, as have three reserves, including veteran big man Nene (knee). Gerald Green, one of several Rockets who reportedly went to the Clippers' locker room and could face discipline from the league, has helped to replace some of Harden's scoring but is 11-for-39 from the field - including 5-for-24 from beyond the arc - over the last three games. Center Clint Capela scored in double figures in a season-high seven straight games and he shot 23-for-26 in three games against the Timberwolves last season.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Houston has won nine straight meetings at home.

2. Timberwolves C Karl-Anthony Towns' streak of 10 straight double-doubles is a season high.

3. Rockets PG Chris Paul is averaging 20.7 points and 9.4 assists at home.

PREDICTION: Rockets 111, Timberwolves 107