The Portland Trail Blazers pay a visit to the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center on Friday night. Here’s a Timberwolves vs. Trail Blazers Prediction. This article will include a Timberwolves vs. Trail Blazers Pick.
Portland Trail Blazers Betting Preview
The Portland Trail Blazers have been in decent shape, as they’ve won five of their last eight games overall and they will be aiming for a third straight victory after taking down the Pacers in a 127-119 road win on Wednesday. Deni Avdija led the team with 32 points, 11 rebounds and five assists; Donovan Clingan added 28 points with 13 rebounds and two blocks, while Tounami Camara chipped in with 17 points on seven of 11 shooting. As a team, the Trail Blazers shot 45 percent from the field and 16 of 46 from the 3-point line as they got off to a flying start with 79 points in the first half to lead by as many as 22 points and they needed every bit of it as the Pacers exploded late in the game to cut the lead to just three points with 1:52 left on the clock.
Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves are starting to heat up again, as they’ve won three of their past four games overall and they will be gunning for a third straight victory after making light work of the Jazz in a 147-111 win on Wednesday. Ayo Dosunmu led the team in scoring with 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists; Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert each scored 21 points, while Bones Hyland provided the spark off the bench with 18 points on six of 12 shooting. As a team, the Timberwolves shot 54 percent from the field and 18 of 39 from the 3-point line as they stormed out of the gates with 43 points in the first quarter to take a 14-point lead into halftime and they just kept their foot on the gas with another 75 points in the second half to secure one of their more dominant wins this season.
Why the Minnesota Timberwolves will win
- The Timberwolves have won each of their last 12 home games against Northwest Division opponents that held a losing record.
- The Trail Blazers have lost each of their last nine road games against Timberwolves teams that held a winning record.
- The Trail Blazers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last eight road games against Northwest Division opponents that held a winning record.
- The home team has covered the spread in each of the last seven games between the Trail Blazers and Timberwolves.
Why the Portland Trail Blazers will win
- The Trail Blazers have won three of their last four games.
- The underdogs have covered the spread in four of the Trail Blazers’ last five games.
- The Timberwolves have failed to cover the spread in three of their last four games as favorites against Western Conference opponents following a win.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Trail Blazers’ last six games against Northwest Division opponents has gone OVER the total points line.
- Each of the Timberwolves’ last six night games against Northwest Division opponents has gone OVER the total points line.
Timberwolves vs Trail Blazers Prediction
The Trail Blazers are still missing Shaedon Sharpe and they are keeping an eye on Vit Krejci, who is questionable with a calf injury, while the Timberwolves have ruled out Anthony Edwards again, with Naz Reid listed as questionable. These teams have already met three times this season, with the Timberwolves leading the series by 3-0 but two of those meetings were decided by four points or less so we could be in for another close one here. The Timberwolves are slightly vulnerable with Edwards still out injured even though it didn’t look like it in their big win over the Jazz, but the Trail Blazers were far from convincing in their narrow win over the lowly Pacers in their last outing. This one is a little tricky, but with the line so short, I have to lean towards the Timberwolves to earn the narrow win at home if they play anything like they did in their last outing.