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The Brooklyn Nets will pay a visit to the Target Center to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night. With that said, it’s a good time to check out our NBA odds series, which includes our Nets–Timberwolves prediction, odds, and pick we have laid out below.
The Brooklyn Nets will look to end their current 4-game road trip on a high note by getting a third straight win on Sunday against Minnesota. After losing their first game of this stretch to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Brooklyn has won their last two outings. Kyrie Irving has been balling out over the past three games and is averaging 27.0 points and 6.7 assists while shooting 52.2 percent from the field and draining 2.7 3-pointers per game.
On the other hand, the Minnesota Timberwolves lost their most recent outing to the Atlanta Hawks. As good as they've been defensively this season, they simply did not have an answer for Trae Young, who erupted for 37 points and 14 assists. Prior to Wednesday's loss to Atlanta, they did seek out a thrilling 112-110 road win over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden the night before. They also blew out the Golden State Warriors last Sunday.
Here is how FanDuel has set the Nets-Timberwolves NBA odds for this Saturday night NBA matchup.
NBA odds: Nets–Timberwolves Odds
Brooklyn Nets: +3 (-110)
Minnesota Timberwolves: -3 (-110)
Over: 235.5 (-110)
Under: 235.5 (-110)
Why The Nets Could Cover The Spread
In a world with no injuries, the Brooklyn Nets are the favorites in this match-up. But that is not the world we live in and unfortunately for the Nets, some of their core pieces, along with their most important one, are out for this game. The good news for Brooklyn is that this is a road affair, which means Kyrie Irving will be available to help carry the offensive load.
Nets superstar Kevin Durant sprained his MCL last week and is slated to miss the next 4-to-6 weeks. Brooklyn has also been without Joe Harris since mid-November as he continues recovering from ankle surgery. Paul Millsap is also out due to personal reasons. In addition, the Nets have listed Nicolas Claxton as questionable due to left hamstring tightness. Claxton has missed Brooklyn's last six outings, though head coach Steve Nash did hint that he may come back sooner rather than later.
Brooklyn's two straight wins paired with the Chicago Bulls' slump due to injuries as of late, the Nets have reclaimed the top spot in the Eastern Conference. After Minnesota, Brooklyn has a tough 4-game stretch coming up against Western Conference playoff teams. They take on the Lakers and Nuggets at home — and without Irving — for their next two before going back on the road to face the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns.
The Nets are 29-16 on the season and are 9-7 against Western Conference squads. Their record against the spread, however, is at a dismal 18-25.
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Why The Timberwolves Could Cover The Spread
The Minnesota Timberwolves are slightly favored for this one due to home court advantage (12-10 at home) and being the relatively more healthy squad heading into Sunday. No doubt, Minnesota has made massive strides this season and find themselves competing for at least a spot in the play-in tournament. However, they are still struggling with consistency on a nightly basis, as seen with their play all season.
Nonetheless, this is still a welcome development for a growing squad like the Timberwolves. Despite having three studs mainly known for their offense in Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, and D'Angelo Russell, it has been Minnesota's defense that has fueled its improvement this season. They will certainly need that top-10 defense stopping Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and this 6th ranked Nets offense.
The Timberwolves, however, could be without veteran guard Patrick Beverley for Sunday. He tweaked his ankle in the first quarter of their previous game against the Hawks. Minnesota has listed the 33-year as questionable against Brooklyn. If Beverley can't go on Sunday, the Timberwolves could give Malik Beasley the starting nod or have a look at Jaylen Nowell in the starting unit.
Minnesota is just a half-game below .500 at 22-23 this season and are 6-8 against non-conference teams. Against the spread, they are also quite even with a 23-22 record.
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Final Nets–Timberwolves Prediction And Pick
This may turn out to be a close contest, but Brooklyn should come away with the victory on Sunday. If Beverley sits this game out, that's one less defensive pest for Minnesota to match up against Kyrie Irving or James Harden. Though the Timberwolves have a promising young Big Three, the Nets still have arguably two of the top 15 players in the league. Brooklyn has also won its last two outings on the road and took down a similarly solid squad in the Spurs in their most recent outing.
Final Nets–Timberwolves Prediction & Pick: Nets: +3 (-110)
