The set-up: Both teams need a win here. Houston is 12-31 and it enters having lost 20 of its last 21 games. The Wolves are 10-34, and they've dropped ten of their last 13. Both teams are poor offensively, and poor defensively. Houston averages 106.9 PPG, while allowing 113.6, while Minnesota averages 109.3 PPG, while allowing 117.3. Suffice it to say, I don't expect any defense to be played tonight. These are two teams with nothing to lose, and I expect this atmosphere to result in a more up-tempo contest, rather than a slower-paced "chess match."

The pick: Minnesota has seen the total go "over" the number in eight of its last 11 after a 20 points or greater loss in its last outing (lost 128-108 at home to Dallas.) The play is indeed the "over."

This is a 10* TOTAL PLAY-BOOK on the OVER Rockets/Wolves.