The Minnesota Timberwolves travel to the Moda Center to take on the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night. Here’s a Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves Prediction. This article will include a Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves Pick.
Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Preview
The Minnesota Timberwolves were stuck in second gear for most of their campaign last season until they finished the regular season strong to finish with a 49-33 overall record. This was good for the 6th seed in the Western Conference before they lost to the eventual champions in the Conference Finals. Anthony Edwards missed just three games and led the team with averages of 27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. Julius Randle averaged 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game.
Naz Reid averaged 14.2 points, while Jaden McDaniels played all 82 games and averaged 12.2 points per game. As a team, the Timberwolves scored 114.3 points per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from the 3-point line. The Timberwolves kept relatively quiet in the offseason, and that’s no surprise given that they seem to be a team on the rise. They toppled both the Lakers and the Warriors before getting stopped in their tracks by the Thunder. This is nothing to be ashamed of.
Portland Trail Blazers Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers will be hopeful that they can make a push for the playoffs in this campaign after winning 36 games last season to finish 12th in the Western Conference. This is due to a surprising leap in their defense during the second half of the season. Anfernee Simsons led the team in scoring with 19.3 points per game, Shaedon Sharpe averaged 18.5 points per game, Deni Avdija averaged 16.9 points while Scoot Henderson averaged 12.7 points and 5.1 assists per game.
As a team, the Trail Blazers scored 110.9 points per game while shooting 45.0 percent from the field and 34.2 percent from the 3-point line. The Trail Blazers made plenty of moves in the offseason as they moved away from Deandre Ayton and Anfernee Simons while acquiring Jrue Holiday, the injured Damian Lillard and Blake Wesley. The Trail Blazers will be happy with how they finished last season, and they would expect to eclipse the 40-win mark this season due to the veteran talent they’ve added to the young squad.
Why the Portland Trail Blazers will win
- The Trail Blazers have won four of their last five games as home underdogs against Northwest Division opponents.
- The Timberwolves have lost three of their last four games as road favorites against Northwest Division opponents.
- The home team has covered the spread in each of the Timberwolves’ last six games.
- The Timberwolves have failed to cover the spread in five of their last six season openers against Western Conference opponents.
Why the Minnesota Timberwolves will win
- The Trail Blazers have lost five of their last six home openers.
- The Timberwolves have won 11 of their last 12 games as road favorites against Western Conference opponents.
- The Trail Blazers have failed to cover the spread in seven of their last eight night games against Northwest Division opponents.
- The favorites have covered the spread in each of the Trail Blazers’ last five games at Moda Center.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Timberwolves’ last five road openers have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Twelve of the Trail Blazers’ last 14 home games against Northwest Division opponents have gone OVER the total points line.
Portland Trail Blazers Player Facts
- Donovan Clingan ranked 2nd amongst qualified players for blocks per 36 minutes (3.0) last season.
- Shaedon Sharpe was one of only five players to have scored 35+ points off the bench in a game last season.
Minnesota Timberwolves Player Facts
- Rudy Gobert ranked 1st in the Western Conference amongst qualified players for FG% (66.9%) last season.
- Mike Conley ranked 5th amongst qualified players for assist:turnover ratio (4.3) last season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Trail Blazers suffered the equal-most home losses by a margin of 40+ points last season (2).
- The Trail Blazers ranked 2nd in the league for offensive rebounds per game last season (13.4).
- The Timberwolves recorded the equal-largest comeback win from a Q3 deficit last season – trailed by 22 points @ Thunder on February 24.
- The Timberwolves recorded the most wins by a margin of three points or less last season (11).
Trail Blazers vs Timberwolves Prediction
The Timberwolves are keeping an eye on Anthony Edwards who is currently listed as questionable with back soreness, while the Trail Blazers have already ruled out Robert Williams III, Scoot Henderson and Damian Lillard. The Timberwolves are much less dangerous if Edwards isn’t able to suit up, as he provides so much on the offensive end.
However, the Timberwolves still have more than enough to get the job done against this young Trail Blazers squad. They are dealing with some injuries of their own. The line is short enough for this one, so I am sticking with the more reliable Timberwolves to take care of business on the road, with my fingers crossed that Edwards decides to play.