On the 2nd night of a back-to-back, Minnesota Timberwolves will host Houston Rockets. Both teams are not having the best start of the season as the Timberwolves have only 4 wins in 9 games and they have lost 3 games in a row while the Rockets have only 1 win in 9 games which is the worst result in the whole league.

Last night Minnesota lost to Bucks and they didn't have a real chance to threaten the best team in the NBA right now. During the losing streak, Minnesota also lost to Phoenix and San Antonio on the road. The last 2 games Houston played against the Clippers and both games were pretty tight but without successful outcomes. The only win for Houston was at home versus the Jazz. While playing at home, Minnesota has 3 wins and 3 losses. The Timberwolves have beaten teams like the Lakers, Spurs and Thunder but Houston has lost 5 straight road games and 5 of them have been with at least 8 points.

If we look at advanced stats, they are in favor of Minnesota. The Timberwolves have a 23rd offensive rating (108.7) while the Rockets are 5 positions down with a rating of 105.1. Minnesota provides the 9th best defense with a 108.7 rating but Houston struggles very much on defense as their defensive rating is only 114.3 which is 22nd worst in the league. Minnesota averages 112.8 points per game and allows 113.7 but Houston responds with 107 points and 115.7 allowed points.

Although the record isn't the best, Minnesota isn't playing so badly. Yes, the expectations have been sky high but only losses against the Spurs have been unexpected. At home, the Timberwolves haven't lost to teams with worse records than theirs. Houston is a young team that needs to learn how to play on the road. Minnesota should be very angry and motivated to end 3 game losing streak and they will do anything to get the win.

本译文使用有道机器翻译，仅供参考：

背靠背比赛的第二天晚上，明尼苏达森林狼队将主场迎战休斯顿火箭队。这两支球队本赛季的开局都不是最好的，森林狼在9场比赛中只赢了4场，他们连输了3场比赛，而火箭在9场比赛中只赢了1场，这是全联盟最差的成绩。

昨晚森林狼输给了雄鹿，他们没有真正的机会威胁到现在NBA最好的球队。在连败期间，森林狼还在客场输给了太阳和马刺。最后两场火箭对阵快船的比赛，两场比赛都很激烈，但都没有成功的结果。火箭唯一的一场胜利是在主场对阵爵士。在主场比赛中，森林狼取得了3胜3负的成绩。森林狼击败过湖人、马刺和雷霆等球队，但火箭已经连败5场客场比赛，其中5场至少得到8分。

如果我们看一下先进的数据，他们对森林狼有利。森林狼的进攻效率排在第23位(108.7)，而火箭的进攻效率下降了5个位置，为105.1。森林狼以108.7的得分排名第九，但火箭在防守上非常挣扎，他们的防守得分只有114.3，排在联盟倒数第22位。森林狼场均得到112.8分，失分113.7分，而火箭则得到107分和115.7失分。

虽然战绩不是最好的，但是森林狼打得也不差。是的，人们对球队的期望很高，但只有输给马刺才出乎意料。在主场，森林狼从未输给过战绩比他们差的球队。火箭是一支年轻的球队，需要学习如何在客场比赛。森林狼应该非常愤怒，并有动力结束三连败，他们会做任何事情来获得胜利。