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Oklahoma City Thunder vs Minnesota Timberwolves 1/7/22 NBA Picks, Predictions, Odds

Minnesota Timberwolves (18-20) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (13-24)
January 7, 2022 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: Oklahoma City Thunder 5.5; Over/Under: +215
(Get latest betting odds)

The Oklahoma City Thunder play host to the Minnesota Timberwolves once again at the Paycom Center on Friday night.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been struggling for form as they’ve lost five of their past eight games, but they will be aiming for a third straight victory after taking down the Thunder in a 98-90 road win on Wednesday. Anthony Edwards led the team with 22 points and five steals, Patrick Beverley added 20 points with six assists while Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in with 17 points, 16 rebounds and three assists. As a team, the Timberwolves shot just 40 percent from the field and 12 of 44 from the 3-point line as they got off to a flier and outscored the Thunder by 30-10 in the first quarter which allowed them to cruise the rest of the way as the margin remained at double-digits until the fourth quarter. D’Angelo Russell had a rough night as he finished with just six points on three of 12 shooting.

Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been in a rut as they’ve now lost five of their past seven games following their loss to the Timberwolves on Wednesday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the team with 19 points and five assists, Josh Giddey tallied 14 points with 15 rebounds and six assists while Aaron Wiggins chipped in with 11 points but no other player scored more than 10 points. As a team, the Thunder shot just 36 percent from the field and nine of 35 from the 3-point line as they got off to a terrible start and just never recovered after falling behind by 21 points early. Darius Bazley finished with just 10 points on three of 12 shooting while Mike Muscala scored just nine points on three of 11 shooting.

Looking at the betting trends, the Timberwolves are 3-0-1 ATS in their last four road games, 6-1 ATS in their last seven games against a team with a losing record and 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 games overall. The Thunder are 6-0 ATS in their last six home games, 4-1 ATS in their last five games against a team with a losing record and 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games overall.

Head to head, the over is 7-1 in the last eight meetings in Oklahoma City, the Timberwolves are 1-5-1 ATS in the last seven meetings overall and the Timberwolves are 5-1-1 ATS in the last seven meetings in Oklahoma City.

It’s always tough to beat the same team twice in a row, but the Timberwolves made it look easy in their win on Wednesday and they did it despite a poor shooting night from Russell. The Thunder will surely come out firing after a slow start cost them on Wednesday, but they’re going to need someone other than Gilgeous-Alexander or Giddey to step up. The Timberwolves are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games against a team with a losing record and I think they can build on that trend with another win and cover at the short line.

Peter Tran's Free Pick: Minnesota -5.5

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Peter Tran

Peter Trans is an acclaimed Expert NBA Handicapper, renowned for his insightful analysis and predictions in the world of professional basketball. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the game, Peter has established himself as a trusted authority among basketball enthusiasts and bettors alike. His expertise is showcased on SportsChatPlace.com, where he provides in-depth game analyses, betting tips, and forecasts that are both highly informative and remarkably accurate.

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