The Minnesota Timberwolves will host the Oklahoma City Thunder in a matchup of two desperate teams when they square off at the Target Center on Tuesday night. While the Thunder will be looking to build on their win the last time, Minnesota is looking to snap a modest skid that has their narrow playoff hopes on life support. Now, let’s find out where the best NBA betting value lies in this affair.
Thunder vs Timberwolves NBA Lines & Game Preview
🗣️ #ThunderUp in Minnesota pic.twitter.com/8XqXZwny62
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) 5 de marzo de 2019
- When: Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at 8:00 PM ET
- Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
- TV: FSN, FSOK
- Radio: Oklahoma City / Minnesota
- Live Stream: NBA League Pass
- NBA Odds: Minnesota -3 / Total: 234
Why Bet On Oklahoma City at +3?
The best reasons to back Oklahoma City in this affair are that the Thunder have the more explosive offense and they’re desperate to get back on track after snapping a four-game losing streak by beating Memphis 99-95 at home on Sunday. The Thunder overcame a 13-point deficit to get the win as All-Star forward Paul George (shoulder) missed his third straight game and could miss this affair as well.
“With Paul out, certainly offensively, it’s been a challenge the last several games,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said afterward. “I’ve been trying to find a way to keep helping our guys offensively in order to create an identity with him being out.”
Despite dropping three straight away from home, the Thunder still have a winning road record at 17-15 SU and ATS and they’ve got the deeper, more mature roster in this contest.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Average Score For: 115.24
- Field Goals: 45.86%
- Three Points: 34.74%
- Free Throws: 71.70%
- Rebounds: 48
- Average Score Against: 110.89
- Field Goals: 45.97%
- Three Points: 35.14%
- Free Throws: 75.68%
- Rebounds: 45.59
Why Bet On Minnesota at -3?
The best reasons to back the Timberwolves are the fact that they’re playing at home where they’ve gone 20-10 SU and 17-13 ATS. Minnesota will also be highly motivated after losing three straight including a humbling 135-121 loss to Washington on Sunday.
“We missed a lot of coverages, especially in the second half,” Timberwolves interim coach Ryan Saunders told reporters. “It’s harder to win on the road in the NBA when your defensive intensity is not there, and it hasn’t been there for these three games here.”
All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns scored a team-high 28 points in the loss to Washington, but underachieving swingman Andrew Wiggins is averaging just 14.8 points over his last six contests. Minnesota averages 112.6 points per game (12th) while allowing 112.8 points per contest defensively (21st).
Team Statistics
Offense:- Average Score For: 112.56
- Field Goals: 45.48%
- Three Points: 34.87%
- Free Throws: 78.62%
- Rebounds: 45.22
- Average Score Against: 112.76
- Field Goals: 46.24%
- Three Points: 37.24%
- Free Throws: 77.53%
- Rebounds: 45.13
Thunder vs Timberwolves NBA Betting Trends
- Oklahoma City is 0-5 ATS in the last 5 games
- Oklahoma City is 13-6 SU in the last 19 games
- The total went UNDER in 5 of Oklahoma City’s last 5 games
- Minnesota is 6-3 ATS in the last 9 games
- Minnesota is 1-4 SU in the last 5 games
- The total went OVER in 9 of Minnesota’s last 11 games
Expert Analysis and Prediction for Thunder vs Timberwolves
I know Oklahoma City isn’t playing very well right now and that the Thunder may or may not have Paul George available for this matchup, but I have absolutely no faith whatsoever in Minnesota and I can see exactly why Jimmy Butler wanted to be gone from the organization. The young Wolves play absolutely no defense and they’ve only got one true superstar in Karl Anthony-Towns.
Even without Paul George, Oklahoma City has a bunch of wily veterans including Russell Westbrook, Dennis Schroeder, Jerami Grant, and Steven Adams, among others.
I know the Thunder are an uninspiring 1-4 ATS in their last five road games and 0-6 ATS in their last six games against their Western Conference counterparts, but Minnesota has gone 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games following a loss, 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game and 1-6 ATS in their last seven games following an ATS loss. Even without Paul George, this is a game that Oklahoma City should win, simply because they are the better team.
NBA Betting Pick: Oklahoma City 121 Minnesota 115
