Playing against the Minnesota Timberwolves presents plenty of problems for the Rockets, but one very big problem in particular.

A 7-1 problem, to be exact.

Kevin Garnett, Minnesota's outstanding 7-1 power forward, is tough for any team to handle, and he always gives the Rockets fits. Combine that with the fact that Garnett plays up front with 7-0 Rasho Nesterovic and 6-10 Joe Smith, and you also have another issue that has been a big problem for the Rockets the past couple of years -- getting rebounds.

But in Saturday's 90-88 loss to the Timberwolves before a sparse crowd of 10,724 at Compaq Center, the Rockets may have found a couple of big solutions to such problems -- rookie Eddie Griffin and veteran Kevin Willis.

Griffin did what few have been able to do over the last few years -- shut down Garnett. And Willis did what few Rockets' big men have been able to do -- dominate the boards, grabbing a game-high 17 rebounds.

And one of the reasons the Rockets had a chance to win at the end was because of Griffin's defense on Garnett, who had been scoring at will. Garnett had been playing phenomenally, entering the fourth quarter with 33 points on 15-of-25 shooting. But matched up against Griffin, Garnett managed just four points on 1-of-5 shooting.

The key? Garnett's biggest advantages -- his incredible length, quickness and athletic ability -- were almost matched by the 6-10 Griffin, who has a similar long-armed build to the Minnesota forward.