The Minnesota Timberwolves (9-9) travel to Spectrum Center Friday to take on the Charlotte Hornets (12-8). Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Timberwolves at Hornets odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
After a strong last 10 games, winning six of them, the Timberwolves have bounced back into play-in tournament position.
Oddly enough, they’re .500 at both home (6-6) and on the road (3-3). They’re 6-4 in their last 10. The Wolves are 9-9 against the spread with a 6-12 Over/Under record. They’re led by SF Anthony Edwards and C Karl-Anthony Towns.
As for the Hornets, they’ve been a pleasant surprise this season, currently in playoff positions in the Eastern Conference.
The Hornets are led by SG Terry Rozier, SF Miles Bridges and PG LaMelo Ball. They’re deep, full of talent and push the pace. They’re 11-9 against the spread and 10-10 on the over/under.
Timberwolves at Hornets odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:40 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Timberwolves +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Hornets -145 (bet $145 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Timberwolves +2.5 (-107) | Hornets -2.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 222.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
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Timberwolves at Hornets key injuries
Timberwolves
- PG Patrick Beverley (adductor) out
- SF Josh Okogie (back) questionable
Hornets
- C Mason Plumlee (calf) questionable
Timberwolves at Hornets odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Hornets 114, Timberwolves 110
Money line
PASS. I just prefer the points as most NBA games end with a margin greater than 2.
Against the spread
BET HORNETS -2.5 (-115) as they’ve used the Spectrum Center’s crowd to full effect.
They’re 6-2 at home, one of the better home records in the NBA. Only a handful of teams have been able to come into their arena and leave with a win. The Golden State Warriors couldn’t even pass the test.
Crazy enough, the Hornets have a negative net rating on the season, yet it turns to a positive 3.3 at home. They also shoot better at home.
Given that they can matchup well with Bridges on the phenom Edwards, the Hornets should be able to play the Wolves well. With all that in mind, I’m loving their spread.
Over/Under
“LEAN” to the OVER 222.5 (-112) for a small wager.
Why? Because both of these teams like to get out and run. They’re young, aggressive teams that prefer running and playing in transition than settling into their half-court offense.
The Wolves rank second in offensive rebounding rate while the Hornets rank in the bottom five in defensive rebounding. At the same time, the Wolves rank in the bottom three in turnover rate.
There’s going to be a ton of chances for a ton of points in this one. Both teams rank in the top 10 in pace.
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