The play-in games for the Western Conference begin Tuesday. The eighth-place Los Angeles Clippers (42-40) take on the seventh-place Minnesota Timberwolves (46-36) to determine who will be the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Tip-off is 9:30 p.m. ET at Target Center in Minneapolis. Below, we look at the Clippers vs. Timberwolves odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
The Clippers finished the season with six wins in their last seven games including ending on a five-game win streak. Forwards Paul George and Norman Powell both returned from injuries. They were 17-24 on the road this season.
The Timberwolves went 15-8 after the All-Star break but ended the regular season losing two of three games after they locked up seventh place in the conference.
The Clippers beat the Timberwolves three times in November, including twice in Minnesota. The Timberwolves won the fourth regular-season matchup in L.A. in January.
Clippers 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 9:47 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Clippers +130 (bet $100 to win $130) | Timberwolves -160 (bet $160 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Clippers +3.5 (-112) | Timberwolves -3.5 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 230.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
Clippers at Timberwolves key injuries
Clippers
- G Luke Kennard (hamstring) questionable
- G Kawhi Leonard (knee) out
Timberwolves
- None
[tipico]
Clippers at Timberwolves odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Clippers 123, Timberwolves 119
Money line
This is an interesting matchup. The Clippers were pretty bad on the road this season, going 17-24, but they beat the Timberwolves on the road both times they played at Target Center.
The Wolves played well at home in the regular season, going 25-16, and winning eight of their last 11 contests there.
However, the Clippers are playoff-tested and have both George and Powell back in the lineup after injuries kept them out for an extended time; the Timberwolves have not made the postseason since 2018.
I’m going with the hot hand in this game. Take the CLIPPERS (+130).
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Against the spread
The Clippers covered the spread in five of their final seven games of the season en route to an even 41-41 ATS overall record. They were 21-20 ATS on the road.
The Timberwolves went 42-38-2 ATS overall and 22-18-1 ATS at home, but they have covered the spread only twice in their final 10 regular-season games.
Expecting the Clippers to be more prepared for the intensity of a play-in game, take the CLIPPERS +3.5 (-112).
Over/Under
The Clippers allowed only 102.8 points per game in their last five outings; the last five games for Minnesota finished with over 240 points.
The four games between the two teams finished with totals of 241, 188, 231 and 226 points.
Based on Minnesota’s last five games and the Clippers’ 127.8 points scored per game across their last seven, take OVER 230.5 (-108).
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