The Minnesota Timberwolves (15-17) host the Boston Celtics (16-17) Monday for an 8 p.m. ET tip-off at the Target Center. Below, we look at the Celtics vs. Timberwolves odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
Boston has alternated between winning and losing over the past seven games; the latest being a 117-113 loss Christmas Day at the Milwaukee Bucks, but covered as 7.5-point underdogs.
Over the past two weeks, the Celtics are 3-3 straight-up (SU), 4-1-1 ATS and 3-3 O/U with the 11th-best non-garbage time net rating (plus-4.1 points per 100 possessions), according to CleaningTheGlass.com (CTG).
Minnesota has lost back-to-back road games to the Dallas Mavericks 114-102 Tuesday and to the Utah Jazz 128-116 Thursday.
The T-Wolves are 3-2 SU, 4-1 ATS and 4-1 O/U in the last 14 days with the 10th-best non-garbage time net rating (plus-4.6 points per 100 possessions), per CTG.
Celtics at Timberwolves odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:30 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Celtics -230 (bet $230 to win $100) | Timberwolves +180 (bet $100 to win $180)
- Against the spread (ATS): Celtics -5.5 (-110) | Timberwolves +5.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 214.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
PLAY: Free, daily sports pick’em contests. Play now!
Celtics at Timberwolves key injuries
Celtics
- SF Jayson Tatum (health and safety protocols) out
- PG Dennis Schroder (health and safety protocols) out
- PF Grant Williams (health and safety protocols) out
Timberwolves
- SF Anthony Edwards (health and safety protocols) out
- PG D’Angelo Russell (health and safety protocols) out
- PG Pat Beverley (health and safety protocols) out
- SF Jarred Vanderbilt (health and safety protocols) out
Deposit $10 or more, get $100 in instant bet credits at Tipico Sportsbook! New customer offer in CO and NJ. 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Place your legal, online sports bets at Tipico. Let’s make this interesting. Bet now!
Celtics at Timberwolves odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Celtics 110, Timberwolves 98
Money line
PASS even though Boston is clearly the right side because the Celtics (-270) is too pricey considering they are missing their leading scorer in Jayson Tatum.
However, the price makes sense because the T-Wolves are missing four of their starting 5 and their three leading scorers.
Against the spread
“LEAN” to the CELTICS -5.5 (-110) since they have covered in their past five trips to Minnesota and Boston is 9-1-1 ATS vs. the T-Wolves in their last 11 meetings.
Furthermore, Celtics wing Jaylen Brown is one of the best 30 players in the league whereas no one on Minnesota’s active roster has a prayer at making an All-Star team with KAT and Edwards sidelined.
A bet that I like more than Boston’s full-game spread is the CELTICS -2.5 (-120) FIRST HALF SPREAD.
Boston has a plus-9.3 first-half scoring margin over the past three games, all vs. teams with a winning record. While Minnesota has a minus-4.0 first-half scoring margin over that same span.
Over/Under
PASS with a “lean” to the Under 214.5 (-112) since both teams are missing a ton of firepower and the Under has cashed in four of Boston’s past five games as a road favorite.
But, we are getting to the party late on the Under as this total has been lowered from the 218-point opener down to the current number since news broke of Tatum being added to the COVID list.
That said, I hate following a crowd of people in sports betting so I’ll just PASS ON THE TOTAL.
Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and, soon, IA. Bet now!
If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Please gamble responsibly.
Follow Geoff Clark on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Additional NBA sports coverage:
HoopsHype | Celtics Wire | LeBron Wire | Lonzo Wire | Nets Wire | Rockets Wire | Sixers Wire | Thunder Wire | Warriors Wire | Rookie Wire | List Wire
Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1622]