The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Houston Rockets will square up twice over the last month of the regular-season with the first of these meetings taking place at Toyota Center Friday night. The games in this series have a history of being up-tempo and high-scoring encounters, and tonight's match-up should be no different.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Situational - The Rockets took a 122-106 beating from the Clippers Wednesday when they allowed their opponent to shoot 56.6 percent from the field. The over is 4-0 in Rockets last 4 games following a double-digit loss at home and 8-3 in their last 11 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.

2. Previous Meetings - Each of the last seven meetings in the series and four straight at Houston have gone over the total. James Harden is averaging 30.4 points during a five-game winning streak over the Timberwolves.

3. X-Factor - Minnesota's promising Slam Dunk contest winner Zach LaVine has scored 28 points in each of the past two games and he's 11-of-21 from behind the arc in his last four appearances.

Selection: This is a play on MIN@HOU to go OVER the total (Free)