The Minnesota Timberwolves have been one of the best teams in the NBA since 2026 has gotten underway, boasting a 6-1 record with notable wins over the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs. They even defeated the Milwaukee Bucks without Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, but they can't stop here.

Continuing on with their four-game road trip, the Timberwolves head to Texas to face the Houston Rockets on Friday night. Another top team in the Western Conference, the Rockets should pose a tough challenge for the Timberwolves, especially with the injury report indicating they'll be without one of their top players yet again.

Minnesota's injury report features three familiar names, with Enrique Freeman (two-way), Rocco Zikarsky (two-way), and Terrence Shannon Jr. (foot) all ruled OUT for Friday's contest in Houston.

However, the big name is Anthony Edwards, as the team's leading scorer at 28.9 points per game has been ruled OUT due to right foot injury maintenance. It'll be the second-straight missed contest for Edwards, who last missed back-to-back games in the middle of December.

Edwards has missed eight games this season with the Timberwolves, during which the team has gone 5-3. Julius Randle has proven to be a strong top option with Edwards sidelined in those games, posting averages of 25.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.1 assists while shooting 52.1% from the field.

The Timberwolves will also return Rudy Gobert, who was out in the prior contest due to a suspension.

The Rockets' injury report has four players listed as well, with two-way players Isaiah Crawford and Tristen Newton ruled OUT, along with point guard Fred VanVleet, who suffered an ACL injury before the season and will miss the entire year.

The last player listed is Tari Eason, who is QUESTIONABLE due to a right ankle injury. Eason has missed a handful of games this season for Houston, but has been productive when on the floor, averaging 12.0 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 46.9% from three-point range.

While the Timberwolves have started 2026 on a hot note, it's been the opposite for the Rockets, who are 3-5 to begin the new year. To their credit, they haven't exactly been healthy, with Alperen Sengun missing time.

Fans were likely looking forward to a battle between Kevin Durant and Anthony Edwards, but the focus now shifts to the matchup between two star international centers in Gobert and Sengun.

Tip-off at the Toyota Center in Houston is set for 9:30 p.m. EST.