The Portland Trail Blazers (11-15) host the Minnesota Timberwolves (11-15) Sunday at the Moda Center for a 9 p.m. ET tip-off. Below, we look at the Timberwolves vs. Trail Blazers odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions, and bets.
Minnesota has lost five straight (1-4 ATS) entering Sunday with the latest being a 123-106 blowout loss at home to the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday.
Over the past two weeks, the T-Wolves are 1-5 straight-up (SU), 1-5 ATS and 4-2 O/U with the second-worst efficiency differential, according to CleaningTheGlass.com (CtG).
Portland is on a four-game losing skid and has dropped seven of its past eight games (2-6 ATS), six of which were by double digits. The Trail Blazers have the third-worst efficiency differential and second-worst ATS margin in the last 14 days.
The Trail Blazers won two of three meetings with the T-Wolves last season but Minnesota was 2-1 ATS in those games and the Over cashed twice.
Damian Lillard was sensational vs. the T-Wolves last season: Dame Time scored 34.0 points per game on 70.8% true shooting (.525/.432/1.000) and a plus-19 net rating.
Timberwolves at Trail Blazers odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:20 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Timberwolves +100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Trail Blazers -120 (bet $120 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Timberwolves +1.5 (-110) | Trail Blazers -1.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 221.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
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Timberwolves at Trail Blazers key injuries
Timberwolves
- PG D’Angelo Russell (ankle) questionable
Trail Blazers
- PG Damian Lillard (abdomen) questionable
- SG C.J. McCollum (chest) out
- C Cody Zeller (knee) out
Timberwolves at Trail Blazers odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Trail Blazers 114, Timberwolves 105
Money line
Let’s gamble on Lillard’s status and BET the TRAIL BLAZERS (-120) now in hope of Dame Time clocking back in Sunday. Even if Portland doesn’t get Lillard back, it can still beat a T-Wolves team trending in the wrong direction.
At least with the Trail Blazers, they have a very legitimate injury excuse for their recent performance. But, Minnesota is just playing badly. The T-Wolves have lost by 17, 28 and 11 points in their previous three games.
Granted, those losses came against teams that are playing much better than Portland currently. But, Lillard is one of the few superstars in the NBA that can put a team on his back and he balled vs. Minnesota last season.
Also, despite their recent struggles, the Trail Blazers are still one of the best home teams in the Association. For example, Portland is 10-4 SU at home with the fourth-best non-garbage time efficiency differential (CtG).
On the other hand, the T-Wolves are 4-6 SU with the 20th-ranked non-garbage time efficiency differential on the road (CtG) and 6-21-2 ATS in their 29 visits to Portland. That ATS trend applies to this meeting because this game is priced as a coin-flip.
BET TRAIL BLAZERS (-120).
Against the spread
PASS because Portland’s money line is only 10 cents on the dollar more expensive than Trail Blazers -1.5 (-110). It would be terrifying if this game came down to the last basket. But, the experience would be much worse if we need the Trail Blazers to win by two and they only win by 1 point.
Over/Under
Slight “LEAN” to the UNDER 221.5 (-112) for a tiny wager if at all because I assume most of the market will be taking the Over in Timberwolves-Trail Blazers since neither is known for defensive tenacity.
Also, most of the team trends are Over-friendly, but the Under has cashed in seven of the past 10 Timberwolves-Trail Blazers games. That said, I much prefer Portland’s money line as my favorite wager in this contest.
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