Rockets' No. 2 offense meets Timberwolves defense without Edwards

The Minnesota Timberwolves (5-3), with the NBA's third-best defense but without Anthony Edwards, visit the Houston Rockets (7-1) and the league's second-best offense at 8:30 p.m. ET Wednesday.

Houston scores 119.6 points per 100 possessions, and its effective field goal percentage of 57.2 is second in the league. Minnesota allows 103.3 per 100 and holds opponents to an effective field goal percentage of 49.9, fourth.

The Rockets rank 25th in three-point rate, so their possessions finish inside, right where Rudy Gobert waits.

Tempo pulls the other way. Minnesota plays at the ninth-fastest pace in the league, while Houston ranks 26th at 99.7, and the Rockets have won seven of eight games at that slow grind.

The glass is the second fight. Both teams rank in the top five in offensive rebounding, and Gobert pulls down 12 rebounds a game, four of them on the offensive end. Houston is only 14th in defensive rebounding.

That matters more because the Rockets are short at center. Steven Adams, who plays 20.9 minutes a night, is out, and Clint Capela is questionable. Julian Phillips and one other player are also out.

Alperen Sengun runs Houston's offense from the post and leads the team in points (23.3) and assists (7.8). Kevin Durant adds 1.6 blocks a game.

For Minnesota, LaMelo Ball leads the team with 5.9 assists, though he also turns it over 3.6 times a game. Jonathan Kuminga leads the Timberwolves in blocks.

Edwards averaged 33.3 points in four games before landing on the report. He is out, with an expected return of Monday, December 21. Donte DiVincenzo, who plays 30.5 minutes a game, is also out, and Terrence Shannon Jr. is questionable.

Houston arrives on a two-game winning streak that includes a 119-98 win over Oklahoma City and a 109-93 win over Boston. Minnesota's three losses include a 127-125 defeat at Cleveland.

Sportsbook prices give the Rockets a 72% chance to win. Our projection, built on the players available, has Houston at 64% and favored by 4.4 points.