BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota visits Houston in Western Conference action Friday. The Rockets are 12-14 against Western Conference opponents. Houston ranks third in the Western Conference with 53.2 points per game in the paint led by Alperen Sengun averaging 13.7.

After a historically bad shooting stretch this month, the Houston Rockets finally got hot from the 3-point line, led by Kevin Durant, to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves.

• The Timberwolves, who will be coming off a Friday night game at Houston, are 4-2 this season on the second night of a back-to-back. One of those victories came Sunday against the Spurs, who were also playing for the second time in as many nights when they dropped a 104-103 decision at the Target Center.

Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves hit the road for Houston on Friday night for a Western Conference showdown with Kevin Durant and the Rockets.

Get the best Timberwolves vs. Spurs predictions ahead of Saturday's clash at Frost Bank Center. Free NBA picks for January 17.

The Houston Rockets aim to rebound against the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight after a significant loss. Despite Minnesota's recent success, the Rockets hold a home-court advantage and are favored to win,

Julius Randle scored 29 points and the hot-shooting Minnesota Timberwolves never trailed in a 139-106 blowout of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert missed Tuesday’s game in Milwaukee due to league suspension after accruing his sixth flagrant foul in Sunday’s win over San Antonio. And there’s little relief for the big man the rest of the way, with half the regular season still to play.