The Rockets (31-20) finally turned in another strong defensive performance Sunday, beating Minnesota 107-90. Houston held the Timberwolves to 39.8 percent shooting and outrebounded them 51-39 to win for the third time in four games.

The Rockets gave up their lowest point total since a 93-86 victory over Miami on Jan. 17. Houston started to have problems at the defensive end after that, giving up 102.2 points and 46.9 percent shooting over the following nine games - going 5-4 in that span - before knocking off Minnesota.

"The defense still needs some improvement, but overall it was good," said Rafer Alston, who had 22 points and six assists Sunday. "We turned it up. It wasn't a good start in the first quarter ... but as the game progressed, we gradually got better defensively and we were able to put them away."

Now Houston will look to tighten up the defense on the road, as it's given up at least 104 points in its last four away games - going 1-3 in that span.

The Rockets have had few problems at the defensive end during their eight-game win streak against Milwaukee. They've held the Bucks to 85.8 points during the run, and won the last meeting 85-81 on Dec. 31 - when the Bucks had Andrew Bogut, Michael Redd and Luke Ridnour in the lineup. None of the three injured players will be in uniform Monday.

The Rockets haven't lost to the Bucks since falling 115-87 on Dec. 28, 2004 in Milwaukee. They've won three times at the Bradley Center since.

Avoiding a fourth consecutive home defeat in the series could be difficult for Milwaukee (24-29) as it contends with the devastating losses of three of its top players. Ridnour will miss four weeks with a broken right thumb suffered in practice Thursday and joins star guard Redd (knee), who's done for the season, and center Bogut (back), out for up to eight weeks, on the bench.

Milwaukee went to overtime against Detroit on Saturday night, but suffered a 126-121 defeat. The Bucks will be trying to avoid losing three in a row for the first time since Dec. 7-10 on Monday.

Milwaukee's Ramon Sessions scored 20 of his career-high 44 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, and gave the Bucks a 121-120 lead on a pair of free throws with 46 seconds left in the extra period. The Pistons, however, outscored Milwaukee 6-0 the rest of the way.

"We couldn't stop them," coach Scott Skiles said. "They scored 47 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. ... You have to play a perfect game if that's going to happen."

Charlie Villanueva added 33 points and seven rebounds for the Bucks.

Sessions, who came in averaging 10.7 points before going 13-of-18 from the field and adding 12 assists Saturday, will be expected to step up and help the offense. So will guard Keith Bogans, who was acquired Thursday from Orlando and had eight points in 25 minutes in his Bucks debut.

Milwaukee hasn't lost consecutive home games this season. They're 14-9 at the Bradley Center and 5-2 there against the Western Conference.