The new-look Utah Jazz (1-0) visit the Minnesota Timberwolves (1-0) Friday. Tip-off from Target Center is set for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Jazz vs. Timberwolves odds, and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
The Jazz come into this game after picking up a big 123-102 win in their season opener vs. the Denver Nuggets as 6.5-point underdogs Wednesday. Many people expected the Jazz to be a bottom 5 team in the Western Conference, but they are looking to prove that they can contend for the playoffs even after trading away C Rudy Gobert and G Donovan Mitchell. Gobert was traded to the Timberwolves in the offseason in a deal that returned a number of role players and four 1st-round draft picks to the Jazz.
G Collin Sexton, acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Mitchell deal, was the leading scorer for the Jazz Wednesday with 20 points on 6-of-12 shooting in 21 minutes off the bench. F Lauri Markkanen, also acquired in the Mitchell deal, looked strong in that outing as well. He totaled 17 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists on 6-of-12 shooting in a team-high 33 mins.
The Timberwolves are looking to start their season 2-0 after acquiring the 3-time DPOY Gober. After being bounced out of the playoffs in the 1st round by Memphis last year the Timberwolves are hoping that Gobert is the piece that they have been missing. He looked very solid in his debut with 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting and 16 rebounds in 34 minutes Wednesday in a 115-108 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
He and all-star C Karl-Anthony Towns make a talented duo in the paint, with rising star G Anthony Edwards and former All Star G D’Angelo Russell operating as a talented backcourt. Neither Towns nor Edwards had a great game vs. the Thunder and will look to bounce back Friday.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Jazz at Timberwolves odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:27 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Jazz +280 (bet $100 to win $280) | Timberwolves -370 (bet $370 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Jazz +7.5 (-108) | Timberwolves -7.5 (-112)
- Over/Under (O/U): 226.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Claim your risk-free bet up to $350. Catch the excitement and start betting with Tipico Sportsbook! New customer offer in CO and NJ. 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Bet now!
Jazz at Timberwolves key injuries
Jazz
- None
Timberwolves
- None
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Jazz at Timberwolves picks and predictions
Prediction
Timberwolves 104, Jazz 101
Moneyline
AVOID.
The Timberwolves should win this game with the star power they have, but I do not believe in them being this heavily favored. Especially after neither Towns nor Edwards looked good in their first game.
The Jazz surprised a lot of people with their blowout win vs. the Nuggets, and don’t be shocked when they put up a fight in this one as well. The moneyline here is far too risky for me to advise you to bet on this game for either team.
Against the spread
BET JAZZ +7.5 (-108)
This is your best bet in this one. The spread being this high here shocks me. After blowing out a Nuggets team that many see as contenders to win the Western Conference, I expected much tighter odds Friday.
The Jazz are a scrappy team with a lot of talented, young players and G Mike Conley and F Rudy Gay add some veteran expertise. A highly talented offensive backcourt with Conley and G Jordan Clarkson can score some serious points, especially with Sexton and G Malik Beasley off the bench. This is one of the deeper backcourts in all of basketball and look for them to pose some challenges for a Minnesota team with little to no perimeter defense.
Over/Under
LEAN UNDER 226.5 (-110)
This bet is fairly risky. With neither of these teams having much perimeter defense and with both having highly talented offensive guards, expect both teams to score in the triple digits. Both teams have solid paint defenses, but you can still expect the forwards and centers in this game to play major roles.
Tread lightly here because if the stars get rolling early for both teams I could easily see this game surpassing the Over. Look for Towns and Gobert to shine in this matchup and expect a back-and-forth matchup down the stretch.
The Over/Under here will rely heavily on if the stars are able to shine.
Want action on this NBA game or any other matchups? Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, SportsbookWire’s official sportsbook partner in CO and NJ. Bet now!
If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.
Follow @payton_shanks on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Access more NBA coverage:
HoopsHype | Bulls Wire | Celtics Wire | Nets Wire | Rockets Wire | Sixers Wire | Thunder Wire | Warriors Wire | LeBron Wire | Rookie Wire | List Wire
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1368]