The Toronto Raptors (39-14) have rung up a franchise-record 14 straight wins and go for No. 15 Monday when they host the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves (16-35) at Scotiabank Arena. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. We analyze the Timberwolves-Raptors sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
Timberwolves at Raptors: Key Injuries
Timberwolves
- SG Jake Layman (toe) out
- PG D’Angelo Russell (quad) questionable
- SG Evan Turner (not with team) out
Raptors
- C Marc Gasol (hamstring) out
- PF Dewan Hernandez (ankle) out
- PG Kyle Lowry (neck) questionable
- SG Norman Powell (finger) out
Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM.
Timberwolves at Raptors: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 10:25 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Timberwolves 110, Raptors 104
Moneyline (ML)
The Raptors (-500) survived a late scare Saturday against the Brooklyn Nets to win 119-118 and extend their winning streak to 14 straight with Lowry sidelined by injury. The T-Wolves (+380) shocked the world with a 142-115 beatdown of the Los Angeles Clippers to snap a 13-game losing skid. Minnesota has been better on the road with a record of 9-16 vs. a 7-19 home mark. Toronto is 20-7 on home court.
With the Raptors showing some signs of cracking under the pressure of the winning streak their last time out, I like the value with the TIMBERWOLVES (+380) following their incredible upset of the Clippers. They’ve won at least two games in a row just three times this season and suffered a 122-112 loss to the Raps Jan 18, but now’s the time to routinely bet against Toronto at inflated prices for its opponents.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Timberwolves to win as underdogs returns a profit of $38.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The better, safer play is backing the TIMBERWOLVES (+9.5, -110) on the spread, where they’ll need to stay within 9 points in a loss for a bet to cash.
The Raptors have won by margins of 9 or fewer points in each of their last three games and only six of their 14 straight wins came by double digits. The Wolves are just 18-31-2 against the spread overall, but they’re 12-12-1 ATS on the road and 9-8-1 ATS against Eastern Conference opponents.
Over/Under (O/U)
Take the UNDER 227.5 (-110). The Raptors have played to the Over in five straight games, but this is the highest projected total in that time. Toronto is 29-23-1 against the O/U on the season and Minnesota is 28-23 against the number, but the teams top the projections by averages of just 1.1 and 2.3 points per game, respectively.
Backing the Under aligns with our moneyline and spread picks of the Wolves to win, as we expect a letdown from the Raptors in their second-to-last game before the All-Star break.
Esten’s NBA betting record: 192-153
Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Follow @EstenMcLaren 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.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=2017]