The Oklahoma City Thunder are heavy favorites over the Minnesota Timberwolves in an upcoming NBA matchup. Despite the Timberwolves' talent, recent struggles and a poor start to games suggest an upset is unlikely. The analysis dives into the Thunder's strengths, the Timberwolves' weaknesses, and key factors that could influence the outcome of the game.
All-Star weekend is almost here, but before we get to that; there's a handful of games that need to be played tonight and one will be between the red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder as they visit the Minnesota Timberwolves . OKC may have a few lessons to teach the T-Wolves, but the home team will need to pay attention.
The Minnesota Timberwolves losing to the Milwaukee Bucks last night while the Bucks were without both Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo was the type of loss that makes it clear a team is not a genuine contender. The Timberwolves have talent, but they are not a team that will put together a postseason run. Then again, Minnesota was without three of its own top-seven. Whatever the excuse, do not expect an upset tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder. My Thunder vs. Timberwolves predictions side with the visiting favorites, in part because Minnesota has been so sluggish out of the gates lately. It has been a problem on the road, trailing by 22 at the half at Cleveland on Monday. It has been a problem at home, going 0-6 ATS in this stretch. It has been a problem as a favorite, going 0-6 ATS before halftime in this stretch. It has been a problem as an underdog, last covering a first-half spread as an underdog on Jan. 25, going 0-2 ATS in the first two quarters since then.In the lineup, going 0-4 ATS in first halves this month with the veteran’s steady hand. It has been a problem without Conley in the lineup, going 0-3 ATS in the last three first halves while Conley attempts to get a finger straight. Literally, his finger is crooked after getting dislocated in a come-from behind victory against Houston last Thursday. The Thunder have been leading at halftime by more than the full-game spread in four games this month. There is a reason. Do not overthink this. One of these teams fails to start games on time. While the Timberwolves are older than the Thunder, Minnesota begins games with a much more immature approach. Tonight’s tip may be at 7:40 local time, but the Timberwolves will not remember the game is being played until at least 8:15. McDaniels has found a more aggressive approach that has improved his all-around game. In his last 12 games, he has been taking just 3.6 threes per game, making 1.4 of them (39.5%). He has also been grabbing 7.5 rebounds per game. Before that shift, he was shooting 3.8 threes per game, making only 32.9% of them, while grabbing just 5.0 rebounds per game. The clearest piece of the shift is he has stopped taking so many corner 3s. They are simply not his shot. That leads to more drives from McDaniels, which furthers an aggressive mentality. Most of that will remain true tonight. But against Oklahoma City’s wings, McDaniels will struggle to thrive on the glass. It is simply a reality. He is usually a large wing or an athletic power forward. But against the Thunder, McDaniels will not be the same lineup variable. Oklahoma City is designed to counter such players. Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets The Thunder opened as mere 4.5-point favorites late on Wednesday, even after the Timberwolves had failed against a shorthanded Bucks rotation. The spread jumped to -6.5 by the end of Wednesday night and then rose to -8.5 before sunrise. Given Minnesota’s recent struggles and Oklahoma City’s overall dominance, this line made more sense. The total opened at 219.5 and jumped to 222.5 late on Wednesday, then toggling between 222.5 and 222 on Thursday morning. Minnesota is 3-11-1 ATS at home this season when favored by two or fewer scores or as an underdog.
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