2018 NBA Playoffs: Last time the Rockets-Timberwolves met in the postseason
By Dante Nelson
What happened the last time the Houston Rockets faced the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Playoffs?
The Houston Rockets have met the Minnesota Timberwolves once in the playoffs. That was back in 1997. The Rockets swept the Wolves in the first round. Back then, it was best of five, sot he Rockets won three games.
That’s the only history between the teams. Let’s dive into this lone series.
Well, really quick, we see the Timberwolves…um, lost better each game…? Like, the Wolves lost by 17 in game one. Then, they lost by 12 in game two. They then lost game three by five points. See? It got better!
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The Timberwolves were led by the superstar-duo-in-the-making-but-never-panned-out Stephon Marbury and Kevin Garnett. They were going up against the Hall of Fame heavy Rockets featuring Charles Barkley, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Clyde Drexler.
This was pretty interesting. Both teams’ starting lineup scored in double figures. At the same time, Houston only had one player in their lineup younger than 30. The Wolves were the opposite. Only one player was over 30, and he was age 30 anyway. It was a battle of different ages and experience.
The Rockets scored whatever they wanted. The Timberwolves simply didn’t have any defense for the scoring. The Rockets’ TS% and eFG% blew away the Wolves’. The Wolves’ closest loss also had both teams’ highest scoring totals. It seemed the less defense involved, the better it got, at least for the Wolves.
Will 2018 change this undefeated trend? Houston is the heavy favorite over the Wolves. However, it seems like the Wolves won’t get swept.
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But, I think it’s safe to say that the Wolves, while not being swept, will continue to be winless for playoff series. It’s a shame, too. The Wolves run into a dominant Houston team twice now.