The Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves meet Saturday in the NBA playoffs Game 3 at the Target Center. Here’s a Timberwolves vs Thunder Prediction. This article will include a Timberwolves vs Thunder Pick.
Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Preview
The Oklahoma City Thunder look for a 3-0 series lead to inch closer to a NBA Finals berth. The Thunder have won five of their last six games. Two of the Thunder’s three playoff losses have come on the road.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are averaging 116.9 points on 46.1 percent shooting and allowing 102.8 points on 40.8 percent shooting. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 29.8 points and 6.7 assists, while Jalen Williams is averaging 20.1 points and 5.6 rebounds. Chet Holmgren is the third double-digit scorer, and Isaiah Hartenstein is grabbing 8.4 rebounds. The Oklahoma City Thunder are shooting 32.5 percent from beyond the arc and 78.1 percent from the free-throw line. The Oklahoma City Thunder are allowing 30.8 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 45.8 rebounds per game.
Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Preview
The Minnesota Timberwolves need a win to have any chance of winning this series. The Timberwolves are 4-1 at home in these playoffs. The Timberwolves haven’t lost three straight games since December 31 – January 4.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are averaging 106.1 points on 45.1 percent shooting and allowing 103.6 points on 44.5 percent shooting. Anthony Edwards is averaging 26.3 points and 8.2 rebounds, while Julius Randle is averaging 22.8 points and 5.4 assists. Jaden McDaniels is the third double-digit scorer, and Naz Reid is grabbing 4.3 rebounds. The Minnesota Timberwolves are shooting 33.8 percent from beyond the arc and 76.9 percent from the free-throw line. The Minnesota Timberwolves are allowing 35 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 41.9 rebounds per game.
Why the Minnesota Timberwolves will win
- The Thunder have lost 17 of their last 18 playoff road games against Northwest Division opponents following a win.
- The Timberwolves have won nine of their last 10 games at Target Center.
- The Timberwolves have covered the spread in each of their last seven games as home underdogs against Western Conference opponents.
- The Thunder have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six road games against Western Conference opponents that held a winning record.
Why the Oklahoma City Thunder will win
- The Thunder have won each of their last 10 Saturday games.
- The Timberwolves have lost seven of their last eight Western Conference Finals games.
- The Thunder have covered the spread in each of their last eight Saturday night games against teams that held a winning record.
- The Timberwolves have failed to cover the spread in six of their last seven Western Conference Finals games.
Minnesota Timberwolves Player Facts
- Rudy Gobert ranks 1st in the Western Conference amongst qualified players for FG% (66.9%) this season.
- Anthony Edwards ranks 2nd amongst qualified players for three-pointers made Per Game (4.1) this season.
Oklahoma City Thunder Player Facts
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ranks 1st amongst qualified players for points per game (32.7) this season.
- Cason Wallace ranks 3rd amongst qualified players for steals per game (1.8) this season.
Timberwolves vs Thunder Injury Report
The Timberwolves don’t have any players listed on their injury report.
The Thunder will be without Nikola Topic.
Timberwolves vs Thunder Prediction
As I’ve said countless times this season, the Thunder are the best bet in sports with their 61-31-4 ATS record. The Thunder have blindly made you ridiculous profit these last two seasons, and you shouldn’t stop blindly backing them. However, this will be just the seventh time since January 2 where the Timberwolves are a home underdog. You don’t get these spots often.
Also, if the Timberwolves are who I think they are, they’ll put up a fight and make this a series. I’m also watching Anthony Edwards closely, as if he’s the player I think he is and this new face of the league thing, he leads the way here. Again, trends and what not make OKC the pick, but I’m giving the Timberwolves one last chance to make this a series. I’ll take the free bucket.