The Minnesota Timberwolves improved their season record to 7-9 after going 3-1 in the last week with wins over the Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Clippers. A Sunday loss to the Utah Jazz muddled the week a little bit but there's still plenty of games to go and in the NBA there's always plenty of room for lower level teams to snag playoff spots.

The Wolves have three games this week with a Texas flair, starting Monday at home against the Houston Rockets. The Rockets recently beat the San Antonio Spurs in a close affair and are currently hanging on to a winning record at 9-7 despite a somewhat weak 2011 season bringing their expectations down.

Minnesota travel to Dallas to take on the defending champion Mavericks on Wednesday, but it's not quite as powerful a Mavs team as we saw steamroll through the playoffs in 2011. They're 10-7, but have had a weird season as only the Mavericks can. The weekend brings a game against the San Antonio Spurs back home in Minnesota and a Sunday draw against the Los Angeles Lakers.

For more on the Wolves, check out Canis Hoopus.