The Portland Trail Blazers (16-22) meet the Minnesota Timberwolves (14-22) at Target Center Thursday for an 8 p.m. ET tip-off. We analyze Trail Blazers-Timberwolves sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
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Blazers at Timberwolves: Key injuries
Blazers
- PF Skal Labissiere (knee) out
- C Jusuf Nurkic (leg) out
- SG Rodney Hood (Achilles) out
- PF Zach Collins (shoulder) out
Timberwolves
- C Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) out
- SF Jake Layman (toe) out
Blazers at Timberwolves: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Timberwolves 118, Portland 113
Moneyline (ML)
The TIMBERWOLVES (+115) are playing better (4-3 record in the last seven games) without Towns, who’s been sidelined since Dec. 18. Also, they’ve beaten the Blazers (-139) in three of their last four games in Minnesota. The edge goes to the Wolves, who play with more tenacity than the Blazers game in, game out.
Minnesota scores the fifth most second-chance points in the NBA and the Blazers allow the most points in the paint. In addition, Blazers PG Damian Lillard doesn’t play up to form in games at Minnesota-he scores 22.5 points per game on a .425 field-goal percentage and .333 3-point%-all below his career averages.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Let’s PASS on the Timberwolves’ (+1.5, +105) line because of low that number is and because neither team is good against the spread. The Blazers are 15-21-2 and the Timberwolves are 15-19-2. The Timberwolves have a plus-5.6 average margin of victory compared to the Blazers’ minus-4 margin over the last five games for both sides.
Over/Under (O/U)
Bet the OVER 224.5 (-106). Both teams are good offensively (Blazers rank 11th in points per game and the Timberwolves are 12th), and they’re below average defensively (Blazers are ranked 21st in PPG allowed and Timberwolves rank 24th), so watch out for a high-scoring game.
When you mix into the handicap that both teams play at an above-average pace-Blazers rank 11th in pace and the Timberwolves are ranked eighth-it’s hard to see this game going Under 224.5. Also, I’m always shopping for lower juiced odds. The Under is -115.
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