Minnesota @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 15, 2018 ) Minnesota 101, Houston 104

The NBA-best Houston Rockets got the win in Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference series over the Minnesota Timberwolves, but it wasn't easy. MVP candidate James Harden put the team on his back and will try to follow up a tremendous performance when the Rockets host the eighth-seeded Timberwolves in Game 2 on Wednesday.

Harden scored 44 points on 15-of-26 shooting, including seven straight points during a decisive run in the fourth quarter, and added eight assists in the win. "If you have that aggressive mindset, good things will happen," Harden told reporters. "If they gave me space, where I could get my shot off, I shot it. I was feeling it. If they pressure me enough, I would try to get by them and create for myself or for someone else. Whether it's (Game 1) or 82 regular season games, that's how I need to play." The Timberwolves watched their All-Star, center Karl-Anthony Towns, slump to nine points on 3-of-9 shooting on Sunday and will look to get him more involved in Game 2. "I think we gave them a steady diet of the same thing," point guard Jeff Teague told reporters. "Next game, we got to give them some different looks where (Towns) actually posts up a couple times and still be able to get our spacing with guys driving and trying to kick the ball, but we definitely have to get him a couple more touches."

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT, FS North (Minnesota), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)

ABOUT THE TIMBERWOLVES: Minnesota elected to leave Towns on the perimeter for most of Game 1 to space the floor, and the All-Star was not in disagreement with the plan. "You follow the game plan," Towns told reporters. "Gotta follow the game plan. Whatever the game plan is that's set before the game, you've got to follow it. Especially in the playoffs because it's so much about discipline. It's about being disciplined throughout the game. As long as we stay disciplined we always have a great chance of winning every game." Fellow All-Star Jimmy Butler was held to 13 points on 4-of-11 shooting while battling foul trouble.

ABOUT THE ROCKETS: Harden got some offensive help in Game 1 from center Clint Capela, who collected 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting and 12 rebounds. "In the beginning of the game, you just saw a different Clint," Harden told reporters. "He was running so fast, I had no choice but to give him the ball. Or figure out a way to get him the ball. Defensively, the way he's been active, blocking shots, rebounding the basketball. ... He was just like a deer out there." Capela's performance helped Houston overcome a 10-of-37 effort from 3-point range in the opener.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Rockets PF Ryan Anderson (ankle) missed Game 1 but returned to practice and could play in Game 2.

2. Timberwolves SF Andrew Wiggins led the team with 18 points in Game 1.

3. Minnesota PG Derrick Rose scored 16 points off the bench - his highest total since Nov. 3, when he was with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

PREDICTION: Rockets 121, Timberwolves 112