The Minnesota Timberwolves and Toronto Raptors meet Wednesday in NBA action at the Scotiabank Arena. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.

Minnesota Timberwolves Betting Preview 

The Minnesota Timberwolves are coming off back-to-back playoff trips, but now they look for their first playoff series win since 2003-04. Chris Finch enters his third season as head coach. The Timberwolves didn’t do a lot to get better this season, and you could argue they got worst with Jaylen Nowell, Taurean Prince and Austin Rivers leaving. Anthony Edwards is one of the young stars in the league and Karl-Anthony Towns is one of the better bigs, but it’s going to take more than that to shake something. Jaden McDaniels is one of the league’s best defenders, and Naz Reid was enjoying his best season before he got hurt. Can the Rudy Gobert thing work out in the second season? The Timberwolves are a playoff team, but it feels like they’re a player away from really being feared in the West.

Toronto Raptors Betting Preview 

The Toronto Raptors won 41 games last year, missed the playoffs, and now begin the Darko Rajakovic era. The Raptors haven’t missed the playoffs in back to back seasons since 2011-12. The Raptors moved off of Fred VanVleet and are injecting youth with Gradey Dick, Mouhamadou Gueye, Markquis Nowell and Makur Maker. The two veterans the Raptors brought in were Dennis Schroder and Garrett Temple. The Raptors still have their talented trio of O.G. Anunoby, Scottie Barnes and Pascal Siakam and that gives them a fighting chance in the East. However, the Raptors still feel like they’re a player or two away, and maybe that’s why they were linked to Damian Lillard last month. Still, the Raptors should fight for a playoff spot in the East this season.

Randy’s Pick

This has a chance to be one of the better games on the opening card, as both teams are eager to prove they’re better than their national perception. The Timberwolves have the star power edge, but they’ll also be without one of their best defenders in Jaden McDaniels. The Toronto Raptors have this youth movement coming in, but they still have the proven vets in guys like Anunoby and Siakam. I think the Raptors have a chance to be better than expected, and it starts with setting the tone in games like this at home. Near pick em spot. Give me the Raptors and the free point.