The Houston Rockets are about to play a pivotal game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. With the 2025-26 season coming down the homestretch, they will need to win every game they can, especially against the teams considered in the same tier as them. What’s a shame is that they won’t have their whole team, as Steven Adams won’t be available.
Why the Houston Rockets Are Missing Steven Adams
Adams last played for the Rockets on January 18, meaning he hasn’t played in over two months. ESPN’s Shams Charania confirmed that Adams would have season-ending ankle surgery.
Houston Rockets center Steven Adams has undergone season-ending surgery on his left ankle, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/IG15RAPxQH
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 28, 2026
This was a huge loss for the Rockets, as Adams’ abilities as a rebounder made Houston a hard team to stop. His familiarity with Kevin Durant also helped make Houston even more formidable.
Adams may have been a role player, but he was a guy who filled a hole Houston did not fill following his injury when they had the chance. Even worse is that he wasn’t the only key role player to get hurt, as Fred VanVleet tore his ACL just before the season was about to start.
As a result of those injuries, the Rockets have simply become a little too simplistic as a team. They still have a fair amount of talent, but VanVleet and Adams were among their most proven players, even if they weren’t considered the most talented.
It’s played a role in why, despite being right in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, the Rockets aren’t exactly striking fear in anyone’s hearts like they would have if Adams and VanVleet had been healthy.
And now, they’re going up against the Timberwolves. Granted, they’re not healthy either, as Anthony Edwards is also nursing an injury, but they are one of the few NBA teams with the frontcourt depth to exploit the Adams problem for the Rockets.
Currently, the Timberwolves have a half-game edge over the Rockets, as the former’s 44-28 record barely puts them over the latter’s 43-28, so nights like tonight are equally pivotal for both teams. Games like these can determine a lot of what happens in the playoffs.
It’s funny how both teams are undermanned: the Rockets have their best player but are missing role players, while the Timberwolves are missing their best player but have all their role players.
It should make for one fascinating dynamic tonight, but it is a shame that in such an important game like this, neither side will be at full strength.
