Portland Trail Blazers at Minnesota Timberwolves odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Thursday’s Portland Trail Blazers at Minnesota Timberwolves sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and bets.

The Portland Trail Blazers (16-22) meet the Minnesota Timberwolves (14-22) at Target Center Thursday for an 8 p.m. ET tip-off. We analyze Trail Blazers-Timberwolves sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.


Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.


Blazers at Timberwolves: Key injuries

Blazers

  • PF Skal Labissiere (knee) out
  • Jusuf Nurkic (leg) out
  • SG Rodney Hood (Achilles) out
  • PF Zach Collins (shoulder) out

Timberwolves

  • Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) out
  • SF Jake Layman (toe) out

Blazers at Timberwolves: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 12:00 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Timberwolves 118, Portland 113

Moneyline (ML)

The TIMBERWOLVES (+115) are playing better (4-3 record in the last seven games) without Towns, who’s been sidelined since Dec. 18. Also, they’ve beaten the Blazers (-139) in three of their last four games in Minnesota. The edge goes to the Wolves, who play with more tenacity than the Blazers game in, game out.

Minnesota scores the fifth most second-chance points in the NBA and the Blazers allow the most points in the paint. In addition, Blazers PG Damian Lillard doesn’t play up to form in games at Minnesota—he scores 22.5 points per game on a .425 field-goal percentage and .333 3-point%—all below his career averages.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

Let’s PASS on the Timberwolves’ (+1.5, +105) line because of low that number is and because neither team is good against the spread. The Blazers are 15-21-2 and the Timberwolves are 15-19-2. The Timberwolves have a plus-5.6 average margin of victory compared to the Blazers’ minus-4 margin over the last five games for both sides.

Over/Under (O/U)

Bet the OVER 224.5 (-106). Both teams are good offensively (Blazers rank 11th in points per game and the Timberwolves are 12th), and they’re below average defensively (Blazers are ranked 21st in PPG allowed and Timberwolves rank 24th), so watch out for a high-scoring game.

When you mix into the handicap that both teams play at an above-average pace—Blazers rank 11th in pace and the Timberwolves are ranked eighth—it’s hard to see this game going Under 224.5. Also, I’m always shopping for lower juiced odds. The Under is -115.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Brooklyn Nets at Orlando Magic odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Monday’s Brooklyn Nets at Orlando Magic sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Brooklyn Nets (16-18) ride a five-game losing streak to their 7 p.m. ET game against the Orlando Magic (16-20) at Amway Center. We analyze the Nets-Magic odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.


Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.


Nets at Magic: Key injuries

Nets

  • DeAndre Jordan (knee) probable
  • SG Caris LeVert (thumb) out
  • PG Kyrie Irving (shoulder) out
  • SF Kevin Durant (Achilles) out
  • PF Nicolas Claxton (hamstring) probable

Magic

  • PG Michael Carter-Williams (shoulder) out
  • SF Jonathan Isaac (knee) out
  • SF Al-Farouq Aminu (knee) out

Nets at Magic: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Nets 105, Magic 99

Moneyline (ML)

It’s a bummer that recently activated SF Caris LeVert won’t be able to suit up for this matchup but we are still on the NETS (+170) here. We all know all-star C Nikola Vucevic is key to the Magic’s success and he hasn’t faired well against Jordan in their 12 career meetings. Vucevic’s teams are 2-10 versus Jordan’s teams and Jordan holds Vucevic below his averages in field goal percentage (.436) and points per game (13.7). Also, both Jordan and regular Nets starter C Jarrett Allen have better offensive ratings than Magic bigs Vucevic and C Mo Bamba.

New to sports betting? Bet $30 on the Nets to win outright to earn a profit of $51.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The Nets need to break out of their recent slump and playing a Magic team, which they are 6-4 against straight up (6-3-1 against the spread), will do the trick. Back to the frontcourt advantage for Brooklyn: The Magic’s fifth-ranked opponent’s points in the paint defense will be tested against a Nets team fourth in the NBA in points in the paint. While the Magic themselves are ranked fifth in points in the paint, the Nets do a good job minimizing inside scoring—ranked eighth in the NBA.

Furthermore, I like how the Nets defend the three (ranked third in opponent’s 3-point percentage) compared to the Magic’s outside shooting (ranked 27th in 3-point percentage) and the Nets get the second-most rebounds per game while the Magic are ranked 28th in opponent’s RPG.

Bet NETS (+4.5, -106). New to sports betting? Bet $70 on the Nets +4.5 (-106) to earn a profit of $66.

Over/Under (O/U)

Neither offense is impressive—Nets are ranked 16th in PPG, the Magic are ranked 30th. The Nets are 24th in FG% and the Magic are 27th. Plus, their combined Over/Under record is just 32-36-2. The low total of 210.5 (Over: +105, Under: -130) has me PASSING.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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