The Minnesota Timberwolves (6-19) stop by the Spectrum Center Friday for a 7 p.m. ET tip-off against the Charlotte Hornets (12-14). Below, we analyze the Timberwolves-Hornets NBA odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Minnesota squandered a 13-point first-half lead in a 119-112 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday to lose its third consecutive game and fifth out of the last six. The good news is the Timberwolves finally have C Karl-Anthony Towns back in the lineup and have a 6–0-1 ATS record in their last seven games.
The Hornets got trampled by the Memphis Grizzlies 130-114 as 2.5-point road underdogs Wednesday. The loss ended a two-game winning streak for Charlotte. The Hornets are 3-3 straight up and 3-2-1 ATS over their last six contests.
Charlotte won the last meeting 115-108 on this same day last year to split the 2019-20 season series 1-1. In fact, these teams have alternated wins and covers over the past six meetings.
Timberwolves at Hornets: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:30 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Timberwolves +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Hornets -160 (bet $160 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Timberwolves +3.5 (-110) | Hornets -3.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 228.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Timberwolves at Hornets: Key injuries
Timberwolves
- F Jarrett Culver (ankle) out
- PG D’Angelo Russell (leg) out
Hornets
- PG Devonte’ Graham (groin) questionable
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Timberwolves at Hornets: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Timberwolves 116, Hornets 109
Money line (ML)
It’s pretty hard to make a pro-T-Wolves case given the stats to date, but the return of KAT gives them a legitimate All-NBA guy and he should feast here.
Towns has a plus-EV matchup against Hornets big Cody Zeller and he’s scoring 35.0 points on 59.5% shooting with 14.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game across his last three outings against Charlotte.
In general, opposing bigs play well against the Hornets; Charlotte is in the bottom-10 in points per game, shooting percentage, rebounds and free-throw attempts per game allowed to opposing centers. Also, Timberwolves PG Ricky Rubio replacing Russell might be addition by subtraction in the short-term.
Rubio is a true point guard compared to Russell who’s more of a combo guard and Rubio will get KAT, SG Malik Beasley—Minnesota’s second-leading scorer—and No. 1 overall pick SF Anthony Edwards the ball in optimal situations.
Minnesota plus the points is the better play, but, I lean TIMBERWOLVES (+135) for a one-fifth-unit.
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Against the spread (ATS)
Either BET TIMBERWOLVES +3.5 (-110) for more units or instead of Minnesota’s money line.
Charlotte is 1-3 ATS with a minus-6.0 ATS margin this season as a home favorite. Plus, it would be damn near reckless to not take the points as insurance when betting a 6-19 team.
Over/Under (O/U)
The previous three Timberwolves-Hornets games have gone Under the total and despite both teams being terrible on defense, they have a combined 24-26-1 O/U record this season. Furthermore, the Hornets have a 1-3 O/U record with a minus-8.4-point margin against the projected total as a home favorite this year.
From a hoops perspective, my read is Rubio will focus his energy on D-ing up Hornets rookie PG LaMelo Ball whose insertion into the starting lineup has markedly improved Charlotte’s offense. If Ball does his thing this whole handicap is crap-ola.
I lean UNDER 228.5 (-110) for a half-unit.
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Also see:
- 22 expiring contracts who could be available for trade (Hoops Hype)
- LaMelo Ball’s fourth-quarter benching vs. Grizzlies not related to injury, discipline (Lonzo Wire)
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